Prime Minister Netanyahu informed US President Donald Trump that Israel is not committed to a demand for a permanent halt to fighting in Lebanon, according to a diplomatic source. The remark signals a point of friction between Jerusalem and Washington amid ongoing US-Iran negotiations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Donald Trump that Israel is not bound by a demand for a permanent cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, according to a political source cited by Israeli media. The statement marks a rare public divergence between Jerusalem and the White House over the terms of a broader US-Iran understanding, which Washington has reportedly sought to link to de-escalation on the Lebanese front. Netanyahu's position reaffirms Israel's insistence on retaining operational freedom against Hezbollah, a stance The Zioneer has previously reported as a consistent red line. The conversation comes after weeks of reported friction over the scope of any regional deal; as The Zioneer noted on June 16, Israel had formally objected to the linkage of a Lebanon ceasefire to an Iran agreement. It remains unclear how or whether the US will accommodate Israel's position in the final terms of the emerging memorandum with Tehran.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake