AJC criticizes Trump for referring to Netanyahu as 'Your prime minister'

"I stood with your prime minister at the White House to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights," Trump told the RJC crowd.

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump shakes hands with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they pose in the Rose Garden at the White House this week (photo credit: REUTERS/LEAH MILLIS)
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump shakes hands with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they pose in the Rose Garden at the White House this week
(photo credit: REUTERS/LEAH MILLIS)
WASHINGTON - The American Jewish Committee criticized President Donald Trump for referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "your prime minister" in a keynote speech at the conference of the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) earlier on Saturday.
"Mr. President, the Prime Minister of Israel is the leader of his (or her) country, not ours," AJC tweeted. "Statements to the contrary, from staunch friends or harsh critics, feed bigotry."

During his speech at the RJC event, Trump spoke about the ceremony that took place in the White House nearly two weeks ago, in which he signed a proclamation recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. "I stood with your prime minister at the White House to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights," Trump told the crowd and added that it is something "I have been hearing about for a long time."

"Israel security, really so important to talk about security -- It's always number one for me. They'd been trying to get that approved. As you know, for 52 years they wanted recognition from the United States on the Golan Heights." 
He also predicted a close race in Israel's elections and called both of the candidates "good people." In a brief comment on the upcoming elections, the president asked the crowd, "How is the race going? Who's going to win the race?". The audience yelled back "Bibi" - and Trump, in a diplomatic answer, said "I think it's going to be close. Two good people."
Speaking about past tensions between former president Obama and Netanyahu, Trump told the audience: "Three years ago, US-Israel relations were probably in the lowest point. How the hell did you support president Obama? Now three years later, I am standing before you here as the president to report a very different situation. The incredible bond between the US and Israel has never been stronger than it is right now."