Fact Check: "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described reports of Trump rejecting an Israeli plan to kill Khamenei as 'FAKE'."
What We Know
Reports indicate that President Donald Trump rejected an Israeli proposal to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to multiple U.S. officials, the Israeli government had developed a credible plan to eliminate Khamenei, but Trump was opposed to the idea, viewing it as potentially destabilizing for the region (Washington Post, Independent). During an interview, Netanyahu did not directly confirm or deny the rejection but emphasized that Israel would act in its own interests, stating, "I think that we do what we need to do" (Times of Israel). Following this, a spokesperson for Netanyahu labeled the reports regarding the assassination plan as "fake" (Haaretz).
Analysis
The claim that Netanyahu described the reports of Trump's rejection as "fake" is accurate. However, the context surrounding this statement is crucial. While Netanyahu's spokesperson did call the reports "fake," Netanyahu himself did not explicitly deny the rejection of the assassination plan during his interview. Instead, he focused on Israel's autonomy in decision-making regarding its security (Independent, CBS News).
The sources reporting on Trump's rejection of the plan are credible, including major news outlets like Reuters and the Washington Post, which have a history of reliable reporting on international relations (Washington Post, Reuters). However, the characterization of the reports as "fake" by Netanyahu's spokesperson raises questions about the motivations behind such a statement, especially considering the sensitive nature of the topic and the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran.
Conclusion
The claim that Netanyahu described the reports of Trump's rejection of the assassination plan as "fake" is Partially True. While it is accurate that Netanyahu's spokesperson labeled the reports as "fake," Netanyahu himself did not directly refute the rejection during his interview. The context suggests a nuanced stance rather than a straightforward denial, indicating that while the rejection occurred, the framing of the reports may have been contested.
Sources
- Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, US ...
- Netanyahu denies report that Trump vetoed Israeli plan to ...
- Trump rejected Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, ...
- Trump rejected Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, CBS News ...
- Trump rejected Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, reports say ...
- Israel and Iran resume missile strikes as conflict deepens
- Trump Blocked Israeli Plan to Assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader ...
- Trump rejects Israeli plan to kill Iranian supreme leader, US ... - MSN
