In his bid to undermine the legitimacy of Israel’s new government, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no qualms about torpedoing its efforts to forge a solid working relationship with the Biden administration. Not only was Netanyahu responsible directly for tearing apart the fabric of relations between Israel and the Democratic Party during the Trump administration, he is now trying to drive a wedge between the new government and the Democratic administration by riding the same old Iranian horse he rode to clinch his close ties with the Republicans.

In fact, Netanyahu accused Foreign Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid, whom he called the “acting prime minister” in a pointed dig at Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, of selling out to the Americans. Addressing his Likud Knesset faction on June 21, Netanyahu referred to the June 18 phone call between Lapid and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Reportedly, the two ministers had agreed to adopt a "no surprises" policy. Netanyahu blamed Lapid for tying Israel’s hands. Netanyahu claimed a “zero surprise” policy meant restricting Israel’s military actions, thereby abandoning Israel’s security.

Indeed, an Israeli commitment to compromise its freedom of military action, public or clandestine, would be an unprecedented, grave move. Obviously, nothing of this sort happened. Netanyahu’s accusation was a lie. As abovementioned, Netanyahu based his allegedly dramatic statement following the Lapid-Blinken call. Netanyahu was counting on the fact that most Israelis are unfamiliar with diplomacy jargon. “Zero surprise” is one of the oldest, fundamental principles in Israeli-US relations. During the Obama administration, Israel was the one that demanded a return to the “zero surprise” policy following a number of bitter disappointments with the president (including a US demand to freeze construction in the settlements).

“Zero surprise” does not include clandestine activity of the type Israel undertakes on an almost routine basis against its various enemies. The US secretary of defense does not join Israel’s prime minister and defense minister when they participate in the secret weekly “operations and targets” meeting, not even via Zoom. Israel does not ask the United States for permission to launch a commando raid or Mossad operation or any attack carried out under the radar without an Israeli signature.