A scandal has erupted in the White House that nearly derailed key diplomatic negotiations. US President Donald Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in harsh terms. According to Axios, during a phone call, the American leader called the Israeli PM "crazy" and accused him of ingratitude.
"You've lost your mind": details of the conflict
The cause of the quarrel was the escalation of the conflict in Lebanon. Trump was furious that Israel continued military operations, which, according to Washington, threatened to derail upcoming negotiations with Iran. The American president directly pointed out to Netanyahu that bombing Beirut would only increase Israel's isolation on the international stage.
One of the American officials present during the conversation quotes Trump's words: "You, damn it, have lost your mind. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving you. Everyone hates you right now. Everyone hates Israel because of this." At one point, the US president even shouted: "What the hell are you doing?".
Reminder of corruption and salvation
Trump did not hold back his words and reminded Netanyahu of his own role in his fate. The US President pointed to his support during the corruption trial, hinting that it was thanks to him that the Israeli leader avoided imprisonment. According to sources, Trump "destroyed" Netanyahu in this conversation.
The reaction of the Israeli Prime Minister, according to the same data, was restrained: "Okay, okay, just make sure everything is taken care of".
Blocking the strike and changes in tactics
The result of this conversation was specific changes in military strategy. Israel planned to launch an airstrike on Beirut, but Trump blocked this intention. The US President also expressed serious concern about the number of civilian casualties in Lebanon. He categorically objected to the tactic where Israeli military destroys entire buildings to eliminate one Hezbollah commander.
After the conversation, Israel officially confirmed that strikes on targets in Beirut are no longer planned. However, Netanyahu published a statement warning that if Hezbollah does not stop its attacks, Israel will still strike the Lebanese capital. At the same time, he confirmed that the ground operation in southern Lebanon would continue according to approved plans.
Peace agreement and plans for Iran
Immediately after the conversation, Trump announced an agreement on a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. According to him, through intermediaries, it was agreed that both sides would stop attacking each other.
Now Washington's attention is shifting to Tehran. Trump hopes to conclude an agreement with Iran as early as next week. He called a possible peace agreement with Iran "even better than a military victory".