Will Greenblatt’s resignation hurt Netanyahu?
Seniors in the Netanyahu government regret the resignation of US special envoy Jason Greenblatt, whom Jerusalem considers an ally within the Trump administration.
“The images the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] released of Hizballah’s precision-guided missile manufacturing facility INSIDE Lebanon are clear proof of the threat Iran & its proxies pose to Israel.” This tweet by Jason Greenblatt, Donald Trump's special envoy to Middle East peace, is one of many where he repeated Israeli messages; expressed full-throated support for Israeli policy led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toward Iran, Hezbollah and the Palestinians; and criticized its enemies. His surprising announcement on Sept. 5 that he is resigning from his position eliminates from the regional political game one of Netanyahu’s greatest friends and one of the two main engines behind the Trump administration’s “deal of the century,” which is due to be released following the Israeli election on Sept. 17.
Upon Greenblatt’s resignation announcement, Netanyahu quickly thanked him for his dedication to working “for security and peace” and for not hesitating for a moment “to speak out and tell the truth against all those who spoke ill of the State of Israel. Thank you.”
Senior Likud officials posted warm goodbye greetings for Greenblatt. Foreign Minister Israel Katz tweeted, “I wish to thank Jason Greenblatt for his efforts in promoting peace, for his uncompromising friendship and commitment to the security and prosperity of the State of Israel and for the joint cooperation in advancing regional initiatives.”
Knesset member and former mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat praised Greenblatt’s dedication “on behalf of the Jewish people” and for “his strong support of our activities on behalf of Jerusalem, the US-Israel relationship.”
