Ronald Lauder announced that he has divested from his real estate holdings in Israel and does not plan to return to the country, though he insists he remains a committed Zionist. Lauder also revealed that his disillusionment stems partly from the late 1990s, when Netanyahu abandoned a brokered 10-point peace deal with Syria and Lebanon that Syrian President Hafez al-Assad had accepted. The sharp rebuke adds external pressure on Netanyahu, whose governing bloc currently projects to win only 53 seats, well short of a parliamentary majority.
Key points
Ronald Lauder publicly severed ties with Benjamin Netanyahu over concerns regarding democ…: Ronald Lauder publicly severed ties with Benjamin Netanyahu over concerns regarding democratic erosion and the empowerment of far-right ministers.
Unresolved historical grievances over a missed peace pact with Syria and Lebanon contribu…: Unresolved historical grievances over a missed peace pact with Syria and Lebanon contributed to the long-standing rift between the two leaders.
Benjamin Netanyahu faces severe political deadlock and an uncertain governing path withou…: Benjamin Netanyahu faces severe political deadlock and an uncertain governing path without securing a majority or building new political coalitions.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Ronald Lauder, the American billionaire who heads the World Jewish Congress and was once a close confidant of Benjamin Netanyahu, has accused the Israeli prime minister of sacrificing opportunities for peace to protect his political career.
In an interview with Haaretz published last week, ahead of the Israeli elections, the longstanding supporter of Israel described his disillusionment with Netanyahu, claiming he abandoned a negotiated peace agreement with Syria and Lebanon in the late 1990s despite having approved its terms.
The former ambassador also accused Netanyahu of undermining democracy and empowering far-right ministers whose policies are damaging Israel’s relationships with Arab neighbours, western governments and Jewish communities abroad.
“He chose politics over peace. He put his political future before the deal,” Lauder said of the negotiations with Syria. “That’s where he lost me. I saw him afterward, but it was never the same. He betrayed me.”
The comments come from a figure who helped Netanyahu build influential connections in the US and spent decades supporting Israeli institutions and Jewish organisations worldwide.
Meeting on the sidelines of a regional defense summit in the Philippines, allied defense chiefs moved to bolster local munitions manufacturing for their shared fleets of F-35 fighter jets. The initiative, dubbed "Operation Supercharge," aims to enhance deterrence capabilities amid heightened regional tensions and recent Chinese naval movements near Japanese waters.
Political tensions in Israel have escalated after the prime minister claimed that Palestinians stole the recent elections. In response, Arab parliamentary leadership argued the rhetoric constitutes deliberate incitement intended to subvert democratic outcomes. The dispute highlights fierce post-election clashes over the legitimacy and growing influence of Arab voters in determining the governing majority.
Gen. Zhang Shengmin's appointment fills a critical leadership gap on the Communist Party's top governing body following the removal of two other high-ranking commanders. Formalized during a four-day closed-door meeting, the move precedes an expected fourth term for President Xi Jinping and signals an intensified drive for ideological purity across defense and governance structures.