U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s escalation of the situation in Lebanon during a phone call on Monday that was reportedly filled with insults, according to two U.S. officials and a third source familiar with the conversation.
Earlier on Monday, Iran threatened to abandon negotiations with the United States because of Israel’s actions in Lebanon. During the call, Trump reportedly called Netanyahu “crazy” and accused him of being ungrateful, according to two sources. He also put the brakes on Israel’s plan to strike Beirut.
One U.S. official said Trump told Netanyahu that carrying out his threats to bomb the Lebanese capital would further isolate Israel around the world.
Two of the sources said Trump claimed he had helped Netanyahu stay out of prison—a reference to his support during Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial.
Summarizing Trump’s remarks to Netanyahu, the U.S. official said:
“You’re crazy. You’d be in jail if it weren’t for me. I’m saving you from that. Everyone hates you now. Everyone hates Israel because of this.”
U.S. officials were also quoted as saying that Trump reminded Netanyahu that he had kept him out of prison, an apparent reference to Trump’s repeated public calls for President Isaac Herzog to pardon the prime minister, who is in the middle of a lengthy corruption trial.
A second source familiar with the conversation said Trump was “furious” and at one point shouted at Netanyahu:
“What the hell are you doing?”
The U.S. official said Trump understood that Hezbollah had fired at Israel and that Israel had the right to defend itself, but argued that in recent days Netanyahu had been escalating the attacks disproportionately.
In addition to threats against Beirut, Israel has expanded its ground operation in southern Lebanon.
Another U.S. official said Trump was troubled by the number of civilians killed in Lebanon and opposed the practice of demolishing entire buildings in order to kill a single Hezbollah commander.
Israel no longer plans to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut, an Israeli official told Axios.
Trump and Netanyahu have had several tense phone calls in the past, although they have coordinated closely on Iran and other issues. One official said this was among the worst conversations Trump has had with Netanyahu since returning to office.
Trump’s anger appeared to be fueled by the fact that Netanyahu’s decision to escalate the conflict in Lebanon was threatening to derail his negotiations with Iran.
After the call, Trump posted on Truth Social that talks with Iran were “continuing at a rapid pace.”
Netanyahu later issued a statement saying that he had told Trump Israel would strike targets in Beirut if Hezbollah did not stop attacking Israel, and that in the meantime Israel would continue its operations in southern Lebanon.
“Our position remains unchanged,” Netanyahu wrote.
The second U.S. official claimed that, in reality, Trump had “shaken up” Netanyahu during the call.
“Bibi said, ‘Okay, okay, just make sure everything gets worked out,’” the official said.
Netanyahu’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the report.
(Axios)