'The Jews are sick of you': Trump berated Netanyahu during Gaza deal talks, new book says

U.S. President Donald Trump cursed and shouted at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call in September last year amid negotiations over a U.S.-brokered Gaza cease-fire deal, telling him that "everybody's sick of you, Bibi," according to a new book by New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan. The book, "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump," describes a tense call during the UN General Assembly period in which Trump, speaking with Netanyahu , Jared Kushner and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, pushed the Israeli leader to accept what later became a 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza. According to the account, Trump told Netanyahu, "I've done everything to protect you. You better fucking go along with this. It's been going on for too fucking long. Everybody's sick of you. ... All the Jews are sick of you. Even the two Jews on this call are sick of you," in a reference to Kushner and Witkoff, who were leading negotiations at the time. "You can't back out of this. I'm the best friend Israel ever had. Everybody hates you, and I've stood by you." The authors report that the confrontation came after weeks of friction between the sides, including anger in the White House over an Israeli strike in Doha targeting Hamas leaders , which reportedly derailed coordination with Qatar and prompted Kushner to describe Israeli actions as "crazy." Close U.S. President Donald Trump points his finger towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they shake hands during a press conference after meeting at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 2025. Credit: Jonathan Ernst/ REUTERS U.S. President Donald Trump points his finger towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they shake hands during a press conference after meeting at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 2025. Credit: Jonathan Ernst/ REUTERS The American president yelled at Netanyahu, "This is a great deal for Israel," the account says. Trump went on to list a number of controversial decisions he had made supporting Israel during both of his terms as president, warning the Israeli leader that if he backed out now, it would be the last straw. "We will get a divorce," the book describes Trump as saying. "We will break up." Haaretz Podcast The Israeli far-right’s West Bank land grab and why it's a ticking time bomb play Haaretz Podcast The Israeli far-right’s West Bank land grab and why it's a ticking time bomb Volume: 0.5 X1 total -- : -- time 0:00 fast forward 15 play rewind 15 According to the account, Netanyahu then denied that he was urging to pull out of the Gaza plan. "Who gave you the wrong impression I was calling to get out of the deal?" Netanyahu asked. "I don't know why you're yelling at me," he complained, sounding injured, the account says. Related Articles Deafening silence: Why Netanyahu is too scared to fight Trump's Iran deal Nimrod Novik Netanyahu is selling fiction on Lebanon as Trump sidelines Israel in Iran talks Amos Harel 'Closest ally' or Nazi appeaser? Israel's right wrestles with Trump's Iran deal Linda Dayan Kushner and Witkoff also reportedly accused Netanyahu adviser Ron Dermer of misleading them during earlier talks in Miami, further escalating tensions as Washington and Arab mediators worked on a post-war framework for Gaza. The book says Trump ultimately forced the plan forward in the call, warning Netanyahu that he could not withdraw from the agreement and insisting the proposal was "a great deal for Israel." Netanyahu reportedly agreed, and the deal was later announced publicly at a joint appearance.