PRESIDENT Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s diverging language on Israel’s decision to attack a critical Iranian gas field marks the most notable difference of opinion between the two leaders since the start of the 20-day war against Iran. The attack by Israel on the South Pars gas field prompted Iran to retaliate against energy infrastructure in other Middle East countries. The Iranian strikes led to already elevated global energy prices further surging and spurred Gulf allies to call for Trump to rein in Netanyahu. The aftermath of the strike left Trump and Netanyahu facing questions on whether they’re entirely in sync in prosecuting the war that began as a closely coordinated joint attack on the longtime regional foe. The emergence of daylight -- or at least the appearance of it -- between the two leaders could shape the balance of the conflict and any eventual endgame. Trump, during an Oval Office meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, told reporters that he neither agreed with nor approved of Israel’s attack on the world’s largest gas field, which is an energy lifeline for Iran.

 

“I told him, ‘Don’t do that,’” Trump said of Netanyahu’s decision to strike. “We get along great. It’s coordinated, but on occasion he’ll do something. And if I don’t like it -- and so we’re not doing that anymore.” Netanyahu said that Israel “acted alone” and that he’s agreed to Trump’s request that Israel hold off on any further attack on Iran’s giant gas field. The Prime Minister also sought to downplay any space between him and Trump. “It’s been said that for 40 years I’ve been saying that Iran is a danger to Israel and a danger to the world. That is true,” Netanyahu said at a news conference in Jerusalem. “You know who else said that? President Trump.” Netanyahu later added: “Look, I don’t think any two leaders have been as coordinated as President Trump and I. He’s the leader. I’m his ally. America is the leader.” Trump’s first public reaction to Wednesday’s strike on the Iranian gas field came several hours afterward in a fiery social media post where he also declared the US “knew nothing” about the attack before it was carried out.