Benjamin Netanyahu 'not easy' to work with? Israel PM reacts to Trump remark; calls himself 'tough' on national matters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted to US President Donald Trump’s comment that he “isn’t the easiest guy to deal with.”

“Well, I hope he says that because I'm very tough on the matters that pertain to my country's future,” Netanyahu told CBS News on Tuesday.


The remark came a day after Trump's speech in the Israeli Knesset (parliament) on the occasion of the hostage-prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel, which he facilitated. The US leader later travelled to Egypt for the Gaza peace summit alongside other world leaders.

"...and he (Netanyahu) is not easy, I want to tell you. He’s not the easiest guy to deal with, but that’s what makes him great. That’s what makes him great. Thank you very much, Bibi (his nickname). Great job," Trump had remarked during his address.

'My job is to protect the Jewish state'
During the interview, Netanyahu stressed his “responsibility” to safeguard Israel as a Jewish state.

“It is always the responsibility of the leader of the Jewish state to ensure that the Jewish state’s very existence is never imperiled,” the longest-serving prime minister of Israel said.

This sense of responsibility, he explained, is why he decided to strike Iran during the 12-day conflict in June, which also involved the United States as an ally of Israel.

"I did the things I did, including the strikes against Iran. I took the historic action against Iran that threatened to annihilate us, throw atomic bombs at us," Netanyahu added.

"When I believe that what I'm asked to do is fine, I say (it) is, and when I think I have to say 'no,' I say it. And that's my job. My job is to protect the Jewish state and assure the future of the Jewish people."