Former CIA director and US defense secretary, Leon Panetta, has predicted that when sworn in, Donald Trump, will give Israeli Prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu a “blank check” in the Middle East, possibly opening the way for all-out war between Israel and Iran.
According to him, the President-elect, who defeated the Democrats’ Kamala Harris to win the presidential election this week, and will take office again in January, would give Israel his blessing on every move.
“With regards to the Middle East, I think he’s basically going to give Netanyahu a blank check,” he said via the Guardian, UK.
“‘Whatever you do, whatever you want to do, whoever you want to go after, you have my blessing.’ I mean, he basically said that [before the election].”
Netanyahu has overseen attacks on Iran and its assets as part of a growing conflagration since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October last year.
He and the US president-elect were reported to have spoken during the US election campaign.
Netanyahu congratulated Trump on Wednesday after Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris was confirmed.
War: Trump will give Netanyahu a blank check – Ex-CIA boss, Panetta