Jacob Nagel, who served as national security adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has told Euronews that the European Union will eventually 'come to its senses' and align with Israel's perspective. In an interview on the programme 12 Minutes With, Nagel dismissed the EU as 'irrelevant' even as the bloc remains Israel’s largest trading partner.
Nagel’s remarks come at a time of heightened tension between Brussels and Jerusalem. Earlier this month, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar severed all contact with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, accusing her of drawing parallels between Israel and apartheid-era South Africa. Meanwhile, the European Commission faces pressure from several member states to propose measures restricting trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Nagel: EU Should Focus on Its Own Problems
'At the end, I think that also the EU countries will come to their senses and will realise who are the good guys and who are the bad guys,' Nagel said. He argued that European leaders should prioritise internal challenges over disagreements with Israel. 'See some of the countries inside Europe, and I don't want to say names, you go in the streets, there is terror,' he added. 'There are some European countries that understood it, and they took their fate into their hands, but some have already lost the war against the immigrants. I think Europe is facing a big problem that it has to solve, and its problem is not Israel.'
Nagel’s comments echo a statement made by Netanyahu himself to Euronews last year, when the prime minister described the EU as 'irrelevant'. The bloc’s internal divisions over Israel policy have been a recurring theme, as highlighted in a recent analysis of the EU's internal power struggle over foreign policy.
US-Israel Relations Under Strain
Turning to the United States, Nagel acknowledged some tension in US-Israel relations over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon but insisted that 'Israel and the US are the best allies. They are our best friends.' He was referring to a period when Netanyahu avoided direct public criticism of Washington, even as Israeli officials denounced the US ceasefire memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran, signed on 17 June, which they saw as sidelining Israel.
On the US side, President Donald Trump reportedly berated Netanyahu in early June over threats to resume airstrikes on Beirut, jeopardising talks with Iran. Vice-President J.D. Vance later told Israel it was isolated internationally, stating that Trump is Israel’s only remaining ally.
Nagel expressed understanding for Trump’s domestic priorities but criticised the US approach to Iran. 'Trump is now listening to his close allies like Vice-President J.D. Vance, [Steve] Witkoff and [Jared] Kushner, and not listening to [Defence Secretary Pete] Hegseth and [State Secretary Marco] Rubio and others, and he decided to prioritise the American interests; he wants to bring down the price of oil,' Nagel said. He argued that the US president is 'making a mistake' by focusing on the economy over securing a more favourable deal to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb.
'Iran is now getting exactly what it wants and needs,' Nagel warned, pointing to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and temporary waivers for Iranian oil exports. Experts estimate that selling oil legally could generate roughly $8 billion (around €7 billion) during the 60-day negotiation period provided by the MoU. This development has raised concerns among European allies, as detailed in a report on how Iran emerges stronger from conflict.
Nagel acknowledged that Trump’s 'America first' approach is 'legitimate' given the upcoming mid-term elections and Republican fears of a Democratic takeover of Congress. 'The people in the US, they don't know where Iran is, where Israel is, what enriched uranium is. They just know how much they are paying for a gallon of oil when they go to the gas station,' he said. 'We would very much like the US to be with us, but sometimes they have their own interests.'
Nagel’s assessment underscores a broader shift in US foreign policy under Trump, which has implications for European security and the EU’s own stance on the Middle East. As the bloc grapples with internal divisions and external pressures, the question of how to engage with Israel remains a contentious issue.
