Netanyahu: “We are not subordinate to Americans”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israel is not subordinate to the United States, stressing instead that the two countries are allies despite close security coordination with Washington.

Addressing ministers, Netanyahu said Israel’s relationship with the United States is based on partnership rather than hierarchy, directly responding to concerns about dependence on American policy decisions. He stated that Israel acts according to its own national interests while maintaining strategic cooperation with the US, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

“We are not subordinate to the Americans; we are their allies,” he said.

Netanyahu also said that Trump asked him, “Did they kill any of your people?” to which Netanyahu said he replied: “I am not prepared to accept an equation in which we respond only if people are killed. If they attack Israeli territory, I respond and strike back.”

Additionally, Netanyahu reiterated his long-standing position that Iran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons and said he has spent decades leading international efforts to prevent Tehran from achieving that capability.

“As long as I am the Prime Minister of Israel, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. President Trump and I are in complete agreement on this issue,” he said.

He argued that without sustained international pressure, Iran would have already acquired nuclear weapons, which he said would pose an existential threat to Israel. 

“For more than 30 years, I have been at the forefront of the international struggle against Iran's nuclear program. Were it not for this struggle, Iran would have long ago possessed atomic bombs to destroy Israel. Iran is working to destroy the Jewish state, and I have dedicated my life to preventing them from doing so. As long as I am Prime Minister of Israel, that will not happen,” he said. 

By Sabina Mammadli