Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cast doubt on accusations that former President Donald Trump made a anti-semitic remarks on social media Monday.
The former prime minister and MSNBC anchor Johnathon Lamire were discussing a Truth Social post in which the former president credited himself with supporting Jewish Americans and praised Israel for handing him high approval ratings.
“No President has done more for Israel than I have,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Somewhat surprisingly, however, our wonderful Evangelicals are far more appreciative of this than the people of the Jewish faith, especially those living in the U.S. Those living in Israel, though, are a different story – highest approval rating in the World, could easily be P.M.! U.S. Jews have to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel – Before it is too late!”
After the former president posted the statement, the head of the American Defamation League Jonathan Greenblatt accused him of “Jewsplaining.” The Jewish Democratic Council of America called his remark a “threat to Jewish Americans.”
In response Lamire asked whether the post and Trump himself are “anti-semitic.” The former prime minister denied that Trump is anti-semitic partly since his daughter, Ivanka, converted to Judaism.
“Is Trump anti-semitic?” Lemire asked.
“He has a Jewish son-in-law and his daughter converted to Judaism, his grandchildren are raised as Jews so I don’t think so,” he said. “But I think it reflects his frustration. It happens to many politicians when they feel they don’t get all the credit for the things they did. By the way, I have to tell you, I’m not an exception, all of us belong to that.”
Netanyahu said that Republican support for Israel has skyrocketed while most Democrats, except those belonging to the far-left, have stood by the nation. He rejected claims that he Republican by explaining that he has opposed and backed presidents on both sides of the political aisle. (RELATED: Trump Says Evangelical Christians Love Israel More Than American Jews)
Lamire pushed back on Netanyahu’s defense of Trump’s remark on Truth Social, citing that the Anti-Defamation League and other organizations have warned the former president’s rhetoric could spark anti-semitic hate crimes.
“These comments from the former president comes as hate crimes in the United States are on the rise, there’s been a wave of anti-semitism here in the U.S. but also in Europe and other places. It seems like the former president is feeding that. That’s what many have charged. Should he not be more careful with what he says, is not his rhetoric dangerous?” Lamire asked.
“Look, he’s been a great supporter of Israel, he has many Jewish supporters and he also has many opponents,” the former prime minister said.