US President Donald Trump voiced frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a series of private phone calls in recent weeks, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Thursday. The report said the conversations became increasingly tense as Trump pushed for a diplomatic arrangement with Iran while Netanyahu repeatedly argued for a tougher approach and warned against trusting Iranian commitments.
According to the report, one point of contention involved Israeli military activity in Lebanon. During one conversation, Trump reportedly told Netanyahu, “Stop targeting buildings," reflecting growing irritation over Israeli actions despite a ceasefire. In other calls, Trump expressed concern that the conflict with Iran could have economic repercussions for the United States. The report said he became increasingly focused on the potential costs of a prolonged confrontation and was less receptive to arguments for additional military action.
According to the report, Trump told advisers thatNetanyahu frequently pressed for further operations. According to a person who heard the remarks, Trump complained that no one could handle Netanyahu and said that the Israeli leader “wants to bomb everyone." A senior administration official quoted in the report said many of their discussions followed a similar pattern, with Netanyahu presenting reasons for additional action and Trump listening to those arguments. (Ed note: Hey, President Trump! It is well known that both Hezbollah and Hamas like to hide in civilian BUILDINGS such as hospitals, schools or apartment buildings.) (Read More)
