Trump is accused of lying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported, then backed out of his assassination of Iranian general at 11th hour

Donald Trump has been accused of misrepresenting the position of the Israeli government when he recalls the January 2020 assassination by an American drone of an Iranian general.

Trump on Wednesday night described the attack that killed Major General Qassim Soleimani, who led Iran’s powerful Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guard.

Soleimani was killed when his convoy was leaving Baghdad airport and was hit by a drone.

His death was a massive blow to Iran and a major shock to the country’s leadership.

Trump on Wednesday recalled the drone discussions and said the preparations showed that Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, could not be trusted.

“Israel was going to do this to us and it was being planned and worked on for months,” Trump said, addressing a crowd in Florida.

“We had everything ready to go, and the night before it happened, I got a call that Israel will not participate in this attack.”

Major General Qassim Soleimani, who led the powerful Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was killed by a US drone strike in January 2020. Trump on Wednesday accused Israel of backing out of a plan to kill him: On Friday, US officials said Trump was wrong and Israel was never really on board with the plan

Donald Trump has spent the week attacking Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Soleimani’s convoy is pictured burning near Baghdad airport in January 2020 after the fatal US drone strike

He said he was telling the story for the first time.

“I will never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down,” he said, describing his disappointment.

Israel reacted with anger at the slight, which came four days after the Hamas terror attack, and as Netanyahu was leading the response and dealing with the tragedy.

On Friday, three US officials said Trump’s version of events was not true and Israel was never part of the US plan.

“They never got it,” a former senior White House official told NBC News.

“They always thought it was a dangerous and destabilizing idea.”

Another former Trump administration official said that in Washington, when Trump made the decision to go ahead with the Soleimani strike, the generals who were present seemed to take a collective deep breath.

Trump, whose son-in-law Jared Kushner is a family friend of Netanyahu, launched a series of attacks on the Israeli prime minister this week. He also called Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant a ‘trant’.

Other political leaders have not criticized Israel or its leaders as it continues to bury its dead. Soldiers are seen here carrying the coffin of Valentin Ghnassia, 23, who was killed in a battle with Hamas militants at Kibbutz Be’eeri near the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip during his funeral on Friday.

Troops remove the bodies of victims killed during an attack by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza on Tuesday

Soldiers from the IDF’s Lotari unit are slowly checking the Kfar Aza kibbutz, going from house to house to clear them of any ammunition or threats. It was here that Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes

An Israeli soldier breaks down in tears at the sight of a family dining table that still has Challah bread from Friday’s Kiddush at Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Hamas terrorists massacred families here on Saturday

The attacks on Netanyahu are part of a broader argument that Hamas attacks would never have happened if he were in the White House, but risk alienating a powerful and important voter base.

They have also angered the Israelis, in their time of national shock and sorrow.

Trump later on Wednesday claimed that Netanyahu had been complacent.

“He’s been hurt very badly because of what happened here,” Trump said, speaking on The Brian Kilmeade Show.

“He was not prepared. He was not prepared and Israel was not prepared. And under Trump, they wouldn’t have to be prepared.

“Who would have thought that their intelligence wouldn’t be able to pick this up?

“Thousands of people were involved. Thousands of people knew about it and they let it pass. This was not a good thing for him or for anyone.’

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi told Israel’s Channel 13 that it was “shameful that such a man, a former US president, promotes propaganda and spreads things that hurt the spirit of Israel’s fighters and its citizens.”

Trump also praised the Iran-backed Hezbollah group as “very smart” for the way it went about launching attacks on Israel.

Ron DeSantis, Trump’s main rival for the nomination, attacked Trump for his comments.

“Terrorists have killed at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so it is absurd that anyone, much less someone running for president, would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel, much less praise Hezbollah terrorists as “very smart,” he tweeted.