Former Secretary of State Rex Tillersonsaid that President Trump was “played” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on several occasions, Haaretz reports.

Tillerson said that Netanyahu is “an extraordinarily skilled” politician and diplomat, but “a bit Machiavellian.”

He recounted how Netanyahu would use “misinformation” to persuade the U.S. when he deemed it necessary.

Explained Tillerson: “They did that with the president on a couple of occasions, to persuade him that ‘We’re the good guys, they’re the bad guys.’  We later exposed it to the president so he understood, ‘You’ve been played.’ It bothers me that an ally that’s that close and important to us would do that to us.”

Tom Friedman: “I am going to say this as simply and clearly as I can: If you’re an American Jew and you’re planning on voting for Donald Trump because you think he is pro-Israel, you’re a damn fool.”

“Trump’s way of — and motivation for — expressing his affection for Israel is guided by his political desire to improve his re-election chances by depicting the entire Republican Party as pro-Israel and the entire Democratic Party as anti-Israel.”

“As a result, Trump — with the knowing help of Israel’s current prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu — is doing something no American president and Israeli prime minister have done before: They’re making support for Israel a wedge issue in American politics.”

Israeli journalist Barak Ravid: “I want to tell you a secret: A month ago when Netanyahu decided to allow Omar and Tlaib into the country they already supported BDS and he knew it back then. There is only one reason for Netanyahu’s backtracking today — the pressure from Donald Trump.”

New York Times: “Mr. Trump’s decision to recommend that another country block entry to two United States citizens, let alone members of Congress, was one of the most pronounced violations of democratic norms that he has engaged in since taking office in January 2017.”

President Trump said Israel should not allow two U.S. congresswomen with whom he has feuded to enter the country for an upcoming trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, The Hill reports.

Tweeted Trump: “It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit. They hate Israel and all Jewish people, and there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds. Minnesota and Michigan will have a hard time putting them back in office. They are a disgrace!”

“After the spectacular collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempt to build a coalition threw Israel into an unprecedented do-over election, Israeli public attention on Thursday was glued to two politicians,” the New York Times reports.

“One was Mr. Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister for the last 10 years, but the other was not Benny Gantz, his main challenger in the election last month. Instead, the first day of the new election campaign was dominated by Mr. Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of a small ultranationalist party and former coalition partner who has become anathema to Mr. Netanyahu.”

“That divide, between the ultrareligious right and the secular right, has for the moment eclipsed the old left-right divide in Israel. It proved to be Mr. Netanyahu’s undoing on Wednesday, his deadline to form a governing coalition, and could be critical in the next election, scheduled for Sept. 17.”

President Trump claimed the Golan Heights is “important strategically” for Israel because “heights… you’re up high,” Vox reports.

He explained: “So that’s been under consideration for 52 years, for 52 years they told me they’d been studying it. This is very important strategically for victory, heights, because you’re up high, very important. Fifty-two years ago this started and I did it quickly. Done. It’s all done.”

Israeli Prime Mininster Benjamin Netanyahu said he will name a town in the Golan Heights after President Trump, the Jerusalem Post reports.

“President Trump’s tweet recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory surprised members of his own Middle East peace team, the State Department, and Israeli officials,” McClatchy reports.

“No formal U.S. process or executive committees were initiated to review the policy before Trump’s decision, and the diplomats responsible for implementing the policy were left in the dark.”

“Even the Israelis, who have advocated for this move for years, were stunned at the timing of Trump’s message.”

President Trump will officially recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the Middle East Monitor reports.

Said Trump: “After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!”

Playbook: “This could be a massive boost to Benjamin Netanyahu, who will be in the United States next week to meet with President Trump. Elections in Israel are April 9.