Lauder Sells Israeli Assets, Cites Netanyahu's Abandoned Peace Deals

Ronald Lauder, the American billionaire and president of the World Jewish Congress, has sold his remaining real estate in Israel and stated he has no intention of returning. In an interview with Haaretz published this week, Lauder accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of discarding a negotiated peace framework to protect his own political standing. Lauder, who previously served as a close advisor to Netanyahu, described the relationship as severed and detailed his disillusionment with the current leadership.

Lauder traced his connection to Netanyahu to the 1980s, when the Israeli leader served as ambassador to the United Nations. During that period, Lauder helped Netanyahu cultivate relationships with American business and media figures. Over the following decades, Lauder supported various Israeli institutions and Jewish organizations. However, the two men’s relationship deteriorated as Netanyahu focused on domestic political advancement, with Lauder noting that the prime minister’s wife, Sara, also opposed his influence. The partnership ended following Lauder’s investment in the now-defunct Channel 10, a station whose critical reporting on Netanyahu caused friction between the two.

The central grievance in Lauder’s account involves secret negotiations conducted in the late 1990s. Acting as an intermediary, Lauder traveled between Israel, Syria, and Lebanon for 10 to 15 months to develop a 10-point agreement. He said Syrian President Hafez al-Assad was prepared to sign the document, which would have included an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights and reduced Hezbollah in Lebanon to a political entity. Lauder claimed Netanyahu authorized the talks but then delayed signing to secure the approval of then-Defense Minister Ariel Sharon. Lauder holds the only two copies of that final agreement and stated that Netanyahu’s decision to withhold his signature defined his loss of confidence in the leader.

Lauder said he sold his apartment in Tel Aviv and donated his home in Beersheba to the Jewish National Fund. He described his departure from the country as final, saying he has zero intention of going back. Despite this physical distance, he affirmed that he remains a Zionist and intends to support Israel’s success from abroad. He characterized his actions as being driven by love and care for the nation rather than a retreat from its cause.

The interview was released ahead of Israel’s general election, which resulted in a political deadlock. As of Thursday, with approximately 91 percent of votes counted, Netanyahu’s bloc was projected to secure 53 seats. The camp of Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot was projected to win 48 seats, while parties representing Palestinian citizens held 19 seats. Neither main faction possesses the 61 seats required for a governing majority in the Knesset.

Lauder criticized the potential return of far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to the government. He warned that if their parties play a role in future coalitions, Israel’s future is compromised. He also urged diplomacy with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and opposed declaring Qatar an enemy state. Lauder expressed support for Eisenkot as a political alternative and noted that Netanyahu had not responded to Haaretz by the time of the report's publication.

Netanyahu faces the prospect of coalition negotiations, potential defections from opposition parties, or a second election. Lauder said he would collaborate with the prime minister if requested, though he expected Netanyahu to act independently. He maintained that a different Middle East would exist today had the 1990s agreement been ratified.