Overview
- On Thursday, Sept. 10, Hillary Clinton told MS NOW’s Morning Joe that the United States should take a “very tough position” with Israel if Israeli voters reelect Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
- Clinton cited a Haaretz report that said UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu about a planned Hamas attack before Oct. 7, 2023 and called the alleged failure to act a failure of leadership.
- Netanyahu’s office has flatly denied the Haaretz allegation, has ordered defamation lawyers to sue the paper and its reporter, and Haaretz has stood by its story while the UAE declined to confirm the claim.
- The White House pushed back by stressing President Trump’s close relationship with Netanyahu and reaffirming the U.S.-Israel alliance, pointing to continued military cooperation.
- Clinton urged a stronger U.S. response to West Bank settler violence and said a new Israeli government could open space for a different U.S. approach, a shift that could change U.S. leverage and diplomatic ties depending on the October vote outcome.