JERUSALEM, Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu believed that fighting a war together with Donald Trump would bring down Iran’s religious leadership and strengthen his position before elections, but instead, he is now heading toward a clash with Trump, who wants to pull the U.S. out of the war.
Neither of their goals has been achieved, and Israeli forces are still tied up in Lebanon.
For now, Israeli officials are speaking carefully in public so they don’t upset their most important ally, who is known to react strongly to criticism. But privately, they are clearly frustrated. One senior Israeli official said the early deal is “terrible for Israel,” and added that everyone in the leadership, from the prime minister to the army chief, feels the same way.
The U.S. says that during a 60-day ceasefire, it will work out a full agreement that addresses concerns, especially about Iran’s nuclear program. However, Israeli officials believe these talks could drag on, limiting Israel’s ability to act militarily while its concerns remain unresolved.
Netanyahu and Trump have also argued over Israel’s refusal to limit its attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, which Iran wants to stop. Earlier in the month, Trump angrily called Netanyahu and told him not to strike Beirut while the U.S. was negotiating with Iran.
Netanyahu paused attacks that day but resumed them a week later, leading to Iranian missile strikes on Israel and public criticism from Trump.
Just before the U.S. and Iran announced a temporary deal, Israel again struck Beirut on June 14 after rockets were fired from Lebanon—an attack Trump dismissed as minor.
The agreement, expected to be signed on June 19, will focus on stopping the fighting and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
With elections coming up in autumn and polls suggesting he may lose, Netanyahu may be more willing to go against Trump, especially as many Israelis are becoming doubtful about the U.S. president’s commitment to their security.
“This is a pretty stark moment of divergence of interests,” said Dan Shapiro, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel under the Obama administration, now with the Atlantic Council think tank.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, said troops will stay indefinitely in buffer zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza to deal with threats. He also warned that if Iran attacks Israel because of events in Lebanon, Israel will respond with full force.
Meanwhile, Trump and other world leaders have already gathered in a French resort town for the Group of Seven summit, which has gained new importance after Trump announced the agreement between the U.S. and Iran. He said the Strait would be open from June 19 once the agreement is signed.
The agreement is expected to be signed in Switzerland, though full details are not yet known. Pakistan, acting as a mediator, said it would include a permanent stop to fighting everywhere, including Lebanon.
