Warning to Netanyahu from former US ambassador: He is a toxic person

Former US Ambassador to Tel Aviv Dan Shapiro stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lost his political reputation in Washington and said, "Netanyahu is a toxic name for all Democrats." Shapiro said that both Democrats and Republicans in the United States are distant from the Netanyahu administration and that Israel needs a leadership and policy change to regain its reputation in Washington.

Speaking to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, former Ambassador Shapiro evaluated the future of relations between Washington and Tel Aviv after the US midterm elections. Stating that the Democrats do not want to restart relations with the Netanyahu government, Shapiro stated that the Republicans identify the Israeli Prime Minister with the Iran war, which drew reactions from the US public.

Making evaluations after the US midterm elections on November 3, Shapiro said that the Democrats gaining the majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate created a new political picture for Israel.

"The problem is that as long as there is a Netanyahu-led government in Israel, no one from the Democratic Party will be willing to restart relations. Netanyahu is toxic to all Democrats, and they now have an overwhelming majority in Congress," Shapiro said. he said.

Stating that Netanyahu has become a problematic name among Republicans, Shapiro noted that the US public reacted to the Iran war and the economic cost of the war.

"Netanyahu also has a problem with the Republicans. He is identified with the war against Iran. Americans hate this war and the huge costs it brings," Shapiro said. he said.

Emphasizing that Israel needs a new political leadership and a different discourse in order to stop the loss of reputation in the USA, Shapiro said, "I do not think that Israel can stop the loss of reputation in the USA without new names and a new discourse that do not carry the burden that Netanyahu brought with them." he said.

Shapiro also evaluated US President Donald Trump's decision to stop $4 billion in aid to Israel. Although there is no definitive timetable for when the aid will end, he argued that this process is inevitable.

Stating that Israel should prepare for this change, Shapiro said:

"Everyone agrees that aid to Israel will end, whether immediately, within a year, or within a few years. Israel will make the necessary adjustments and use its own budget to procure what it needs, and American companies selling to Israel will have to adapt."

The former Ambassador said that if Israel continues to buy weapons from the USA, it will have to comply with the limits set by American laws. Shapiro pointed out that restrictions on arms sales could be shaped according to Israel's political leadership and the policies it will follow.

Stating that the aim is to prevent the use of American-made weapons against US laws, values ​​and interests, Shapiro said: "How can we make sure that things that the United States does not approve of do not happen? How do we protect American values, interests and laws? The main goal here is to prevent the killing of innocent civilians." he said.

Shapiro said that the formation of a new government in Israel, without Netanyahu, would be the first step to improving relations with Washington. However, the former Ambassador emphasized that a change of government alone would not be enough.

Stating that Israel should make radical changes in its policies, Shapiro demanded that measures be taken against the violence of the Israelis who usurped Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank and that the expansion of illegal settlements be stopped.