Khaberni - Amid ongoing tensions between Israel and the U.S. regarding the memorandum of understanding with Iran and the war in Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel has dealt a strong blow to Tehran and its agents in the region.
However, during his meeting with students of a reserve combat officers course in Gush Etzion this Tuesday, he emphasized that the war is not over yet.
Moreover, Netanyahu expressed his great appreciation for the support provided by the United States to his country, but he pointed out the necessity for Israel to liberate itself from dependence. He said: "We need to produce our own military needs," according to Israeli media reports.
He added: "I greatly appreciate the support we have received from our American friends, but we need to free ourselves from their dependency and build an independent arms system of our own."
Crisis of Confidence
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed last night Monday his confidence in his ability to solve the issue of Israel's reluctance to withdraw its forces from South Lebanon. He told reporters: "I am skilled at solving problems, and I solve them very quickly, including with Bibi (Benjamin Netanyahu)"
This came after Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yisrael Katz reiterated more than once their assertion that the army will not withdraw from what they described as the "security zone" in South Lebanon, although the American-Iranian memorandum of understanding signed on June 18 mentioned this.
These statements came amid a crisis of confidence between Washington and Tel Aviv, with recent criticisms directed at the Israeli government by officials in the U.S. administration.
The U.S.-Israeli relations are going through severe fluctuations, the effects of which were clearly seen through the criticisms that have recently surfaced publicly by Trump, who described President "Bibi", as he calls him, as crazy, considering him fond of wars.
In turn, U.S. Vice President JD Vance criticized last week ministers in the Netanyahu government, reminding Tel Aviv that most of the weapons they use came from America.
It is worth noting that Netanyahu and many Israeli officials saw that the memorandum of understanding signed by Trump with the Iranian side last Wednesday "entailed the risk of enabling Iran, which they see as a mortal enemy to Israel, and restricting their ability to respond to threats from Hezbollah in Lebanon".
