William Cohen, President Clinton’s former Secretary of Defense, hypothesized that Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “no confidence” in his relationship with President Biden in a Saturday Fox News appearance.
“I think because Prime Minister Netanyahu does not have any confidence with President Biden, he’s not eager to share the information for fear we might disclose it in advance and undermine or sabotage the event,” said Cohen.
However, he doesn’t think that Netanyahu should think that way.
“I think that is wrong thinking on his part, but there is such a strain in the relationship that I think it complicates it,” Cohen continued.
Earlier this week, Biden publicly opposed an Israeli attack on Iran.
“The answer is no,” Biden told reporters at Joint Base Andrews when asked about the possibility of Israel launching retaliatory strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran launched an attack on Israel just four days ago after Israeli Defense Forces began a ground operation in Lebanon, further escalating tension in the region.
Cohen says comments like Biden’s prevent Israel from having a successful alliance with the United States.
“This public rift really works to the disadvantage of the United States, but also to Israel,” he concluded.