The souring relationship between Trump and Netanyahu

0:00This message comes from the Center for U.S. Voters of Broad Foundation. All U.S. citizens abroad may request an absentee ballot to vote in the 2026 election. Visit registerabroad.com to get started. Today on State of the World, the souring relationship between Trump and Netanyahu. You're listening to State of the World from NPR. We bring you the day's most vital international stories up close where they're happening. I'm Greg Dixon. Just like in the U.S., Israel's politicians are focused on an upcoming national election that could be consequential. Israelis vote at the end of October, and that is factored into the relationship between the two countries. The Trump administration has been showing signs of growing frustration with Israel and with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And as NPR's Estrin and Tel Aviv tells us, the feeling is mutual.

1:01Israelis tend to love President Trump for his pro-Israel stance, but many are not happy he called a truce this summer with Iran. I like Trump, says Neet Seller-Yosi Radinsky, but his judgment wasn't right. He says Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a plan to defeat Iran and they didn't finish the job. In an outdoor market and Israeli man blows the shofar, the ram's horn, a call for introspection ahead of the Jewish New Year beginning next week. Israeli shopper Noi Moore, a mother of four, reflects on Trump. Every morning he wakes up with a new crazy idea, she says. Suddenly he'll say, Iran al-Bamu, and the next day he'll say, let's make a deal. He's not stable. Can you rely on him? No. When Trump announced the truce agreement with Iran this summer, Netanyahu's coalition partners

2:07said they wouldn't be bound by it. Israel was sidelined during the negotiations. Netanyahu told reporters he wasn't aware of the details of the deal when it was reached. And here's what he said about his relationship with Trump. We often see things eye to eye and there are times we see less eye to eye. Netanyahu said, another disagreement has been on Gaza. Trump wants to advance a plan for Hamas disarmament. Netanyahu said he rejects the plan. Netanyahu has also rejected US calls to limit Israeli attacks in Gaza. Israeli strikes have increased, including bombing Hamas munitions depots. That drew a rebuke of the United Nations Security Council from Nikolai Miladenov from Trump's board of peace. Will another strike on a munitions depot stop Hamas from rhyming or tightening its grip on Gaza? It will not. It only delays the demilitarization. Netanyahu wants to appear defiant to hard-right Israeli voters ahead of October elections. But that's

3:12complicating Trump's efforts to rein in Israeli strikes throughout the Middle East, says former Israeli diplomat in the US, Alon Pintas. I think it's a major shift. Netanyahu used to campaign for re-election by touting his close ties with Trump. But Trump hasn't endorsed Netanyahu for the October elections. Netanyahu is trailing in the polls behind his centrist challenger. Former diplomat Pintas speculates Trump is hearing this message from his advisors. You thought you have a partner in Netanyahu? Apparently you don't. There are things that Israel could have done to make you look better and Netanyahu refused to do that because of his unpolitical calculations. And so why should you bend backwards and help him? Screw him. Let's work with the next Prime Minister. On the backdrop of these rocky relations is escalating Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank that's affecting US citizens. A Palestinian-American family's home has been besieged and an American news crew from NBC was attacked. Israel still hasn't

4:17made any arrests. Daniel Estrin and PR News Tel Aviv. That's the State of the World from NPR. Thanks for listening. How do products end up on big box shelves? Well, we have planted money, pitch the planet money for it again. I'm trying not to think how much of a big deal it is and how much work has gone into it. It's really big. Is it helpful if I remind you how big it is? Oh, it's sort of the whole thing. We go inside the minds of the people who decide what goes on store shelves. Listen to planet money on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Terry Gross, host of Fresh Air. I interviewed feminist icon Gloria Steinem several times over the years and we've compiled a special episode to celebrate her life and legacy. Women become ourselves after 50. We drop a lot of baggage and really become much more of true selves. Find it on the NPR app or wherever you listen to Fresh Air.

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