Former US President Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s contender for the post in the Nov. 5 election, said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “less than two days ago,” Reuters reported.
Trump was asked when he last spoke with the Israeli leader during an interview with “Fox News” television broadcast today, the agency specified, BTA reported.
“It wasn’t even two days ago, and for him to come to my home in Florida, in Mar a Lago, with his wife, it was fascinating,” Trump answered the question.
He met with Netanyahu at his mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, in July. It was their first meeting since the end of Trump’s presidency.
Current US President Joe Biden also spoke with Netanyahu this week amid heightened tensions with Iran. Their Wednesday phone call is their first publicly known communication since August.
Trump said it was a “shame” that Biden and Netanyahu hadn’t spoken in nearly two months. “I have to tell you that Bibi (diminutive of Benjamin – ed.) is very tough. He doesn’t listen to Biden,” Trump said.
Relations between the sitting US president and Israel’s prime minister have been strained over the Israeli leader’s handling of the war in the Gaza Strip and the conflict with the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, according to Reuters.
Israel has announced that it will continue its military operations until it is certain of the safety of its citizens.