https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-israel-hezbollah_n_6527b1aae4b0102e6964bb29
Donald Trump Criticizes Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Calls Hezbollah 'Very Smart'
Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — and called the Lebanon-based, Iran-backed terrorist organization Hezbollah “very smart” ― just days after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel prompted the latter to declare a state of war, and amid escalating tensions across the Middle East.
The Republican 2024 front-runner, during an event in West Palm Beach, Florida, recalled to supporters what he described as “a bad experience with Israel” when he claimed Netanyahu had at the last minute pulled out from a joint U. S.-Israel 2020 operation to assassinate Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani.
Trump decided to go ahead with the strike anyway, he said. His version of events has not yet been confirmed.
“We did it but I’ll never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing,” Trump said. “We were disappointed by that. Very disappointed,” Trump later added. “But we did the job ourself and it was absolute precision, a magnificent, beautiful job. And then Bibi tried to take credit for it. That didn’t make me feel too good but that’s all right.”
Trump was reportedly furious when Netanyahu congratulated President Joe Biden on his 2020 election victory, which Trump falsely maintains to this day was stolen. Some commentators speculated Trump’s criticism of Netanyahu could be down to that.
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