Trump Bombs Israel: 'They Will Do What I Say' On Lebanon; says he must keep Netanyahu 'sane'

US President Donald Trump said on Friday (local time) that he would be able to prevent Israel from carrying out further strikes in Lebanon, and claimed that the Israeli leadership was acting on his instructions thanks to what he called strong mutual respect.

Trump made the remarks during an interview with The Axios Show. Asked if he could influence Israeli military actions in the Middle East region, particularly potential attacks on Beirut, the US president said he would be able to exercise control over such decisions. He added: “Yes, I will. I mean, they have a lot of respect for me and they do what I say.”

Read also | Israel and Hezbollah agree to ceasefire after hostilities in Lebanon

Trump’s remarks come just days after he signed the interim US-Iran peace deal, a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU), in Versailles, France. The agreement, which aims to end the US-Iran conflict permanently, also seeks a permanent and immediate cessation of fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon. So far, however, Tel Aviv has continued its military offensive in Beirut targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, a move that has greatly angered Trump and strained relations between the two leaders in the past few weeks.

Trump-Netanyahu ties

He also referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the interview, saying he maintains a strong but closely watched relationship with him, adding: “It’s good, but we have to keep him a little sane.”

His words came after the US president expressed frustration with Netanyahu over threats to the US-Iran deal. According to reports, the Israeli prime minister was also sidelined from the talks that led to the interim agreement. The Wall Street Journal reported that the frequent phone calls between the two leaders are now less friendly. During a recent phone call about Beirut, Trump asked Netanyahu, “Why are you blowing up buildings?” and asked him to “stop blowing up buildings”. In another call, he reportedly complained that the global recession brought on by the war could tie him to Herbert Hoover and the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Since the start of the war in late February, the US president has shouted at Netanyahu on several occasions, which he confirmed earlier this month. Earlier this week, he said: “Without the US, there would be no Israel. Without me, there would be no Israel because no other president was willing to do what I did. I had a great relationship with Bibi. Now Bibi has to be more responsible towards Lebanon.”

Earlier this month, both Netanyahu and Trump played down their rift. In an interview with CNBC, he said that while they sometimes have “tactical disagreements,” they “agree on the main things.” He said: “Sometimes, as in the best of families, we have these tactical disagreements, but we always find a way to work them out and we do it as great friends.”

Read also | Netanyahu said Trump must decide whether to resume full action against Iran

The Israeli prime minister added: “We can disagree in the morning” and find common ground in the afternoon.

Trump repeated during the interview that without him, Israel would be “gutted”. He added: “Remember this: if I don’t end the JCPOA – the path to – – remember that was the path to nuclear weapons legally. It’s written right there. And Obama thought he could pay them off. He gave them billions and billions of dollars, 1.7 billion in cash. You know, it was a well-known story, but it didn’t work. You can’t get out of it if you don’t pay it; you can’t pay it.” and if I hadn’t attacked their nuclear deliveries with B-2 bombers 10 months ago, Israel would not exist today.”

Ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah

On Friday (local time), reports indicated that a renewed ceasefire agreement had been reached between Israel and Hezbollah amid efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.

Citing sources familiar with the negotiations, CNN reported that Israel and Hezbollah had reached an agreement to restore the ceasefire, which took effect at 9 a.m. (local time).

However, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said Israeli forces would continue to eliminate “imminent threats” against “Hizbollah violations.”

“We will continue to eliminate immediate threats, respond to Hezbollah violations and do whatever is necessary to protect our civilians,” an IDF spokesman said.

It remains to be seen whether Israel and Hezbollah will uphold the truce or break it again.

Key things

Trump believes he has significant control over Israel’s military decisions, especially when it comes to Lebanon.
Tensions have risen between Trump and Netanyahu over differing strategies regarding military action.
The recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah highlights the fragility of peace in the region.