Education Minister Yoav Kisch says that in conversations with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump tried to demand an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon — and Netanyahu made clear it would not happen as long as Hezbollah threatens Israel. The account, provided by a minister who participated in the discussions, adds new detail to the reported US pressure on Jerusalem over the northern front.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch revealed on Thursday evening that during talks between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump, Trump attempted to demand an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon — and Netanyahu firmly rejected the demand, stating it would not happen as long as Hezbollah poses a threat. Kisch's account, given in an interview, is the first on-the-record Israeli ministerial confirmation of the content of those high-level exchanges, adding detail to a thread The Zioneer has tracked since mid-June.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Thursday, an unsourced report claimed Netanyahu had convinced Trump that Israel would not withdraw — a claim now bolstered by Kisch's insider testimony. Previous reports, including from Israeli journalist Anna Barsky (citing officials), indicated the administration was exerting heavy pressure on Jerusalem to complete a withdrawal, with potential leverage from delayed weapons shipments. Kisch's remarks provide the first visible Israeli pushback narrative from within the government.
The account echoes the broader pattern: President Trump has publicly urged Netanyahu to 'calm down' and pursue a ceasefire with Hezbollah, and multiple background reports described American pressure as persistent. Kisch's version suggests the prime minister's stance has been firm despite that pressure. What remains unconfirmed is the precise timeline of the exchanges, whether the demand was repeated, and how the U.S. administration responded to Netanyahu's refusal.
2 developments
- DevelopingTrump presses Netanyahu to withdraw from Lebanon by Friday
- StrongIsraeli fears: Trump pressure on Netanyahu over south Lebanon withdrawal to persist after Iran MOU
- StrongChannel reports US applying heavy pressure on Netanyahu to withdraw from Lebanon
- StrongTrump administration demands partial Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon
Source and signal
- Internal intake