Netanyahu ‘one of the most destructive public servants’ of last quarter century, says US senator

A senior US senator has described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as one of the “most destructive public servants” of the last quarter century, The Guardian reported on Thursday.

Tim Kaine, who ran alongside Hillary Clinton as a vice presidential candidate and is a top foreign policy voice within the Democratic Party, accused Netanyahu of making Israel “dramatically less safe.”

The Israeli leader has hurt his country’s longstanding relationship with the US, said Kaine, adding: “Benjamin Netanyahu, in my view, has made Israel dramatically less safe during his long tenure as prime minister.

“He’s going to end up being one of the most successful politicians and most destructive public servants to be on the world stage in the last quarter century, because he’s successful if you measure it by maintaining his own position. “But, in terms of what he has done that has made Israel less safe and less secure, there’s a real lesson there.”

Kaine, a member of the Senate foreign relations and armed services committees, said: “You can be successful as a candidate and as a politician but end up being unsuccessful or even destructive as a public servant.” In December last year, the Virginia senator questioned the Biden administration’s decision to transfer weapons to Israel without oversight from the US Congress.

Amid mounting criticism of Biden from within his own party, Kaine said the president had been “played” by Netanyahu during the first few months of the Gaza conflict.

But Kaine claimed that Biden’s unconditional support for Israel “ain’t going to happen any more.” Biden has now also realized the limits of his influence over Netanyahu, Kaine told The Guardian, adding: “I think President Biden has turned the corner and realized he’s not going to be able, through the force of the relationship, to convince Benjamin Netanyahu to be anything other than who he is.”

Biden had miscalculated in his dealings with Netanyahu based on a belief that “true compassion” for Israel would “lead him to be listened to,” said Kaine, adding: “I think he is enormously frustrated that he’s been trying to give advice, not like a foe would give it — ‘I think this is better for you if you listen to me. I’m not just saying this is better for me; I’m saying this will be better for you.’”

You can be successful as a candidate and as a politician but end up being unsuccessful or even destructive as a public servant.

Tim Kaine