11.05.2025 08:56
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New York Times writer Friedman: This Israeli government is not our ally
In an article titled "This Israeli Government Is Not Our Ally," New York Times (NYT) columnist Thomas Friedman argued that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is putting his own interests above those of Israel and the United States.
Thomas Friedman published an article in the NYT titled "This Israeli government is not our ally" aimed at US President Donald Trump.
Friedman said Trump's plans to meet with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar next week, but not with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, show that he is "beginning to realize an important truth."
Friedman said that the current Israeli government is acting "to the point of threatening core US interests in the region," and he declared, "Netanyahu is not our friend."
Friedman writes that Netanyahu thinks Trump is a fool and that through the US's independent negotiations with Hamas, Iran, and the Houthis, Trump has shown Netanyahu that "he cannot be bought."
Friedman, emphasizing that the "fiercely nationalist, missional" Israeli government is not an ally of the United States, described this government as one that has not prioritized the benefits of living together with its Arab neighbors throughout Israel's history.
Friedman noted that the current Israeli government sets as its priority "the occupation of the West Bank, the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, and the reestablishment of Israeli settlements there," writing:
"Because the Netanyahu government is harming our interests with an aggressive agenda. It is a source of pride for you to not let Netanyahu pressure you, as he did with previous US presidents. It is also very important to protect the US security system that your predecessors have built in the region."
The US-Arab-Israeli alliance serves US interests
Friedman argues that the current US-Arab-Israeli alliance structure was created in 1973 by former President Richard Nixon and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger with the aim of expelling Russia from the region and making the US the dominant global power in the region.
Friedman, who emphasized that this structure has served US geopolitical and economic interests ever since, noted that this alliance is largely based on the US and Israel's commitment to a two-state solution.
“You also tried to push this forward during your first term with your plan for the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank. This plan, of course, was conditional on the Palestinians recognizing Israel and on the state being disarmed,” Friedman writes. He notes that until the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Netanyahu’s government “prioritized the occupation of the West Bank over the U.S. security and peace system in the region.”
"Netanyahu put his own interests above those of Israel and the United States"
Friedman noted that the administration of former President Joe Biden wanted to start talks with the Palestinian Authority on a two-state solution for a year, in order to keep China out of the region by balancing against Iran and pave the way for the passage of the US-Saudi Arabia security agreement through Congress.
Friedman writes that Netanyahu rejected the offer "because Jewish supremacists in the government threatened to overthrow the government." According to him, "Netanyahu, who is on trial on multiple corruption charges, should not have lost his position as prime minister. This position allowed him to both prolong the trial and avoid a possible prison sentence."
Friedman concluded that normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia based on a two-state solution with the Palestinians would "open the door to Israeli tourists and investors in other Muslim countries, reduce global tensions between Jews and Muslims, and strengthen US gains in the region." Netanyahu has put his own interests ahead of those of Israel and the US.
Friedman noted that "Netanyahu has been misleading everyone for two years" and that now the parties are not expecting Israel to join the deal.
He claimed that “Netanyahu is preparing to re-enter Gaza and is planning to squeeze the Palestinian people into a narrow strip of land surrounded by Egypt on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other.” He noted that this move could lead to accusations of “new war crimes” against Israel and that Netanyahu is expecting “the US administration to protect him.”
"Netanyahu's plan to retake Gaza envisions permanent Israeli military occupation"
Friedman said: "The Hamas leadership should have released the prisoners and withdrawn from Gaza long ago. Then Israel would have no excuse to continue the war."
Friedman claims that "Netanyahu's plan to reoccupy Gaza is not about creating an alternative to Hamas, but rather about establishing a permanent Israeli military presence and pressuring all Palestinians to leave the region." He says the situation could become "a Vietnam on the Mediterranean."
Israel's far-right Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, in a statement on May 5, mentioned the idea of "permanent occupation of Gaza," which would "squeeze the local population into an area smaller than a quarter of the Gaza Strip."
Friedman also pointed to an analysis by Israeli military analyst Amos Harel, who noted that "the Israeli army is planning to use more aggressive force to minimize casualties, which could lead to the destruction of much of the civilian infrastructure in Gaza."
According to Harel, such a strategy could lead to the forced relocation of civilians to humanitarian camps, food and medicine shortages, and new mass civilian deaths. This could "lead to more Israeli political and military leaders being held personally accountable under international law."
Friedman noted that this approach would have "serious consequences" not only for Israel but also for US allies in the Middle East, and expressed concern that Jordan and Egypt are trying to force Netanyahu to expel Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank and send them to those two countries.
Friedman believes that "the complete loss of Palestinian hope will reduce the desire to expand US-Arab-Israeli security integration in the region," and cites the assessment that this situation provides long-term strategic advantages against Iran and China.
Friedman said: "Mr. President, you have good and independent instincts on the Middle East, follow them. Otherwise, prepare yourself for this bitter truth: your grandchildren will be the first generation to grow up in a world where the Jewish state is viewed as an indifferent and marginalized state."
Friedman writes in an article based on a report in the Haaretz newspaper dated May 7:
"The death toll in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 52,000, 18,000 of them children. We can continue to ignore these numbers, question their credibility, use all the mechanisms of pressure, denial, indifference, distancing, normalization and legitimization. But none of this changes the painful truth: Israel killed them. Our hands did it. We must stop turning a blind eye. It is time to wake up and say it loud and clear: Stop the war."
Thomas Friedman published an article in the NYT titled "This Israeli government is not our ally" aimed at US President Donald Trump.
Friedman said Trump's plans to meet with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar next week, but not with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, show that he is "beginning to realize an important truth."
Friedman said that the current Israeli government is acting "to the point of threatening core US interests in the region," and he declared, "Netanyahu is not our friend."
Friedman writes that Netanyahu thinks Trump is a fool and that through the US's independent negotiations with Hamas, Iran, and the Houthis, Trump has shown Netanyahu that "he cannot be bought."
Friedman, emphasizing that the "fiercely nationalist, missional" Israeli government is not an ally of the United States, described this government as one that has not prioritized the benefits of living together with its Arab neighbors throughout Israel's history.
Friedman noted that the current Israeli government sets as its priority "the occupation of the West Bank, the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, and the reestablishment of Israeli settlements there," writing:
"Because the Netanyahu government is harming our interests with an aggressive agenda. It is a source of pride for you to not let Netanyahu pressure you, as he did with previous US presidents. It is also very important to protect the US security system that your predecessors have built in the region."
The US-Arab-Israeli alliance serves US interests
Friedman argues that the current US-Arab-Israeli alliance structure was created in 1973 by former President Richard Nixon and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger with the aim of expelling Russia from the region and making the US the dominant global power in the region.
Friedman, who emphasized that this structure has served US geopolitical and economic interests ever since, noted that this alliance is largely based on the US and Israel's commitment to a two-state solution.
“You also tried to push this forward during your first term with your plan for the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank. This plan, of course, was conditional on the Palestinians recognizing Israel and on the state being disarmed,” Friedman writes. He notes that until the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Netanyahu’s government “prioritized the occupation of the West Bank over the U.S. security and peace system in the region.”
"Netanyahu put his own interests above those of Israel and the United States"
Friedman noted that the administration of former President Joe Biden wanted to start talks with the Palestinian Authority on a two-state solution for a year, in order to keep China out of the region by balancing against Iran and pave the way for the passage of the US-Saudi Arabia security agreement through Congress.
Friedman writes that Netanyahu rejected the offer "because Jewish supremacists in the government threatened to overthrow the government." According to him, "Netanyahu, who is on trial on multiple corruption charges, should not have lost his position as prime minister. This position allowed him to both prolong the trial and avoid a possible prison sentence."
Friedman concluded that normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia based on a two-state solution with the Palestinians would "open the door to Israeli tourists and investors in other Muslim countries, reduce global tensions between Jews and Muslims, and strengthen US gains in the region." Netanyahu has put his own interests ahead of those of Israel and the US.
Friedman noted that "Netanyahu has been misleading everyone for two years" and that now the parties are not expecting Israel to join the deal.
He claimed that “Netanyahu is preparing to re-enter Gaza and is planning to squeeze the Palestinian people into a narrow strip of land surrounded by Egypt on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other.” He noted that this move could lead to accusations of “new war crimes” against Israel and that Netanyahu is expecting “the US administration to protect him.”
"Netanyahu's plan to retake Gaza envisions permanent Israeli military occupation"
Friedman said: "The Hamas leadership should have released the prisoners and withdrawn from Gaza long ago. Then Israel would have no excuse to continue the war."
Friedman claims that "Netanyahu's plan to reoccupy Gaza is not about creating an alternative to Hamas, but rather about establishing a permanent Israeli military presence and pressuring all Palestinians to leave the region." He says the situation could become "a Vietnam on the Mediterranean."
Israel's far-right Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, in a statement on May 5, mentioned the idea of "permanent occupation of Gaza," which would "squeeze the local population into an area smaller than a quarter of the Gaza Strip."
Friedman also pointed to an analysis by Israeli military analyst Amos Harel, who noted that "the Israeli army is planning to use more aggressive force to minimize casualties, which could lead to the destruction of much of the civilian infrastructure in Gaza."
According to Harel, such a strategy could lead to the forced relocation of civilians to humanitarian camps, food and medicine shortages, and new mass civilian deaths. This could "lead to more Israeli political and military leaders being held personally accountable under international law."
Friedman noted that this approach would have "serious consequences" not only for Israel but also for US allies in the Middle East, and expressed concern that Jordan and Egypt are trying to force Netanyahu to expel Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank and send them to those two countries.
Friedman believes that "the complete loss of Palestinian hope will reduce the desire to expand US-Arab-Israeli security integration in the region," and cites the assessment that this situation provides long-term strategic advantages against Iran and China.
Friedman said: "Mr. President, you have good and independent instincts on the Middle East, follow them. Otherwise, prepare yourself for this bitter truth: your grandchildren will be the first generation to grow up in a world where the Jewish state is viewed as an indifferent and marginalized state."
Friedman writes in an article based on a report in the Haaretz newspaper dated May 7:
"The death toll in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 52,000, 18,000 of them children. We can continue to ignore these numbers, question their credibility, use all the mechanisms of pressure, denial, indifference, distancing, normalization and legitimization. But none of this changes the painful truth: Israel killed them. Our hands did it. We must stop turning a blind eye. It is time to wake up and say it loud and clear: Stop the war."