Israeli officials fear that the public rift between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump could escalate beyond words into concrete measures, including delayed weapons shipments, restrictions on military aid, and even de facto arms embargo steps, according to a report by Maariv. The assessment adds that Israel expects U.S. pressure for a withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the Syrian Hermon to intensify.
Israeli officials are expressing deepening alarm that the widening rift between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump may soon move from rhetoric to concrete action, according to a report by Maariv published Thursday evening.
The assessment, attributed to unnamed Israeli officials, warns that Washington could take punitive steps including delayed weapons shipments, restrictions on military aid, and even measures amounting to a de facto arms embargo. The officials further believe that U.S. pressure for an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the Syrian side of Mount Hermon will intensify.
The report follows a series of escalating signals between the two capitals. As The Zioneer reported Thursday afternoon, Israeli officials assessed that Trump's pressure on Netanyahu over a south Lebanon withdrawal would persist and intensify even after the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Iran. Earlier Thursday, reports emerged of a tense phone call in which Trump criticized Netanyahu for escalating tensions and threatening to bomb Beirut. Washington has also reportedly warned Israel that prolonged military presence in Lebanon could trigger an actual arms embargo.
The new fear among Israeli officials — that the public rupture could lead to practical American sanctions — marks a notable escalation in tone from earlier assessments. The report did not specify what triggered the latest alarm or whether new signals from Washington prompted the concern.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake