What Hold Does Netanyahu Have on Trump?

By Abdel Barri Atwan

Criticism is mounting against US President Donald Trump within the American ruling elite for his embrace of Benjamin Netanyahu and the racist right wing rulers of Israel, his capitulation to their pressure to prioritize Israel, and his mobilization of all American military and diplomatic capabilities to serve their wars in the Middle East, particularly against Iran.

The American president has become a laughingstock due to his ignorance of the Middle East and its history, both ancient and modern. The latest manifestation of this ignorance is the awakening of America, both its leadership and its people, to the astonishing resilience of the Iranian military on the battlefronts, the success of its forces in destroying all American military bases, and, more significantly, the resilience of the Iranian ruling establishment and the regime’s failure to collapse despite American military strikes and the assassination attempt against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Iranian Islamic Revolution.

We don’t know the secret behind Trump’s weakness in the face of Netanyahu, his transformation into a puppet in Netanyahu’s hands, carrying out his orders without hesitation. During his first term, he moved the US embassy to occupied Jerusalem, recognized Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, and withdrew from the nuclear agreement with Iran. In his second term, he supported the war of annihilation in the Gaza Strip and sent his bombers to launch two attacks on Iran: the first in June (the 12-day war) and the second 10 days ago. Trump went even further when he begged the Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu, ending his appearance before the Israeli Supreme Court in four corruption cases.

There is a prevailing theory, supported by the majority of observers, that explains this submission to Netanyahu by the leader of the world’s most powerful nation. It suggests that this subservience stems from scandalous files held by the Israeli Mossad, implicating Trump in the sexual abuse of minors, known as the Epstein files. These videos were used to blackmail him.

The only thing Trump learned from his “mentor” Netanyahu was lying, impulsive decision-making, and a contemptuous and arrogant attitude toward the other side and its capabilities. There are numerous examples of this, most notably the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities last June, claiming their complete destruction, only to find them still intact. The current aggression against Iran six months later is the strongest evidence.

And while we’re on the subject of Iran, we mustn’t forget Trump’s pledge and insistence on his approval of the new Iranian Supreme Leader, and his veto of the selection of Mojtaba, the son of the martyred Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Now, the Iranian deep state has delivered a powerful and humiliating blow to him by voting for Mojtaba in the internal elections held by the Assembly of Experts in a secret location and under American and Israeli bombardment. It is certain that Trump will not succeed in assassinating him or preventing him from remaining in power for long.

Trump will go down in history as the American leader who destroyed America’s prestige and all its global bases, its superior military deterrent, and his country’s third defeat in the Middle East—after Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Iran. All these setbacks stem from his breaking his promises to put America first and to refrain from foreign intervention and wars.

Trump’s days seem numbered, as the American people and the deep state will not allow him to continue his destructive policies against their security, economy, and prestige. His defeat in Iran is now clear, leaving him with only two options: Either continue the war and suffer further defeats and losses, or a swift and unconditional ceasefire with Iran and the signing of a “surrender” agreement.

There are two indicators that he may choose to withdraw and retreat, indirectly acknowledging defeat and failure as an admission of error:

First: The swift and sudden cancellation at the last minute of the planned visit to Tel Aviv by his aides Steve Wittkov and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as its purpose was to coordinate the escalation of aggression against Iran. Second: The destruction of more than 17 American bases in the Middle East by Iranian missiles would effectively cripple America’s military might.

Israel has embroiled America in a war of attrition from which it will emerge severely wounded and on the brink of bankruptcy due to the current global energy crisis. This crisis is a direct result of Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the soaring prices of gas and oil, and the dramatic collapse of global financial markets. All of this is thanks to Iranian cunning, resilience, and military and political preparedness, and above all, their unwavering determination to fight to the death, whatever the cost.

This piece was translated from the Arabic daily website Al Rai Al Youm

CrossFireArabia

Dr. Marwan Asmar holds a PhD from Leeds University and is a freelance writer specializing on the Middle East. He has worked as a journalist since the early 1990s in Jordan and the Gulf countries, and been widely published, including at Albawaba, Gulf News, Al Ghad, World Press Review and others.

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Palestinian Flag Raised Slovenia Presidential Palace

CrossFireArabia
June 12, 2026

Slovenian President Nataša Perč-Mušar raised the Palestinian flag on the presidential palace in Ljubljana, Saturday. This is a symbolic gesture following its removal from government headquarters after conservative Prime Minister Janez Janša assumed power following the March 22 elections.

In a post on the X platform, Perč-Mušar said the flag would remain flying on the front of the palace for a week before being moved inside for public display. She described the move as carrying political and moral significance regarding the Palestinian cause and international law as reported in Quds Press.

She added the Palestinian flag, in addition to its national symbolism, now reflects what she termed grave violations of international humanitarian law in Palestine and other areas, highlighting the ongoing suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

The president emphasized that “the genocide against the Palestinians has not stopped,” and the residents of Gaza and the West Bank do not live in conditions that guarantee their human dignity, considering the raising of the flag an expression of solidarity with the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

The move coincided with a rising political controversy in Slovenia surrounding allegations of foreign interference in the recent general elections, including accusations concerning the role of the Israeli intelligence firm Black Cube. But this have been denied by relevant political figures in the country.

The government of former Prime Minister Robert Golbow had officially recognized the State of Palestine in 2014 and imposed restrictions on the export, import, and transit of military equipment to and from Israel. Janša opposed these measures and called for a public referendum on them.

This comes amidst ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, which, according to available data, have resulted in hundreds of martyrs and thousands of wounded, in a war that has continued since October 2013 and has caused widespread destruction in the besieged territory.

Since October 8, 2023, Israel, with American and European support, carried out a genocide in the Gaza Strip, including killing, starvation, destruction, displacement, and arbitrary arrests, ignoring international appeals and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt its operations.

This genocide has left more than 246,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing. In addition, hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and famine has claimed the lives of many, mostly children. Furthermore, the Gaza Strip has suffered widespread destruction, with most of its cities and towns effectively erased from the map.

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UN Red Alert Lebanon

CrossFireArabia
June 10, 2026

The UN on Tuesday warned that an Israeli displacement order for Lebanon’s port city of Tyre will affect nearly 44,000 people, as peacekeepers recorded dozens of airspace violations and hundreds of firing incidents across southern Lebanon.

Pointing to the “deteriorating” situation in Tyre amid repeated Israeli displacement orders and continued strikes, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said at a news conference: “The displacement order issued by Israel today for the entire city of Tyre, including all neighborhoods and Palestinian refugee camps, will affect nearly 44,000 people, many who were already displaced.”

On the military front, UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers yesterday observed “intensive ground and air activities” by Israeli forces across the UNIFIL’s area of operations, Haq said, citing armored movements, large-scale engineering and demolition works, sustained logistical traffic, and airstrikes.

“UNIFIL detected 48 violations of Lebanese airspace by Israel and nine airstrikes conducted by IDF fighter aircraft, as well as one separate incident of sustained machine-gun fire from an IDF helicopter, during which approximately 100 rounds were fired toward Bint Jubayl,” he said.

Total overflight time reached approximately 85 hours, with air activity particularly concentrated in the vicinity of Bint Jubayl, Tyre, and Deir Siriane, Haq said.

Peacekeepers also reported 446 trajectories fired from Israeli forces’ positions, “both south of the Blue Line and within the mission’s area of operations,” he said.

Israeli attacks have continued despite a fragile ceasefire that took effect April 17 and was later extended until early July.

More than 3,660 people have been killed and over 11,300 injured since Israel expanded its military campaign in Lebanon on March 2, while more than 1 million people have been displaced, according to Lebanese authorities.

Aoun also urged stronger EU support for Lebanon, particularly for the army, security institutions and the economy. He said Lebanon’s efforts to prevent the flow of Syrian refugees toward Europe should be matched by greater assistance from the bloc. Anadolu