President Donald Trump criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu over Israeli operations in Lebanon, saying that without him there would be no Israel, and suggested Syria should handle Hezbollah instead, according to an Israeli media report on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump escalated his criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, telling reporters that 'without me, there would be no Israel' and reiterating his proposal that Syria should handle Hezbollah instead of the IDF. The remarks, reported by an Israeli media outlet at 14:25 Jerusalem, mark the latest in a series of statements from Trump on the northern front. Just hours earlier, at 12:57 Jerusalem, Trump had said Israel has been fighting Hezbollah 'too long, too many people are dying' and suggested Syria would do a better job, while also saying he is 'not disappointed' in Netanyahu.
As The Zioneer reported over the past day, Trump's comments have evolved in intensity. At 12:57 Jerusalem, multiple versions of his remarks appeared in quick succession — he praised Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa as 'highly talented,' said he was 'not happy' with Israel's handling of Hezbollah, and called on Netanyahu to 'act responsibly in Lebanon.' By 13:10 Jerusalem, the desk reported Trump stating that 'every intelligent Israeli knows' Israel would not exist without his actions. The thread also shows Trump has repeatedly linked his criticism of Israel's Lebanon operations to his push for a US-Iran nuclear deal, which he described as a 'fortress wall' against an Iranian nuclear weapon.
In background reporting, The Zioneer has documented Trump's displeasure with Israeli operations in Lebanon for over a week. On Sunday June 14, Trump said Israel's Beirut strike was not coordinated with the US and called for a cessation of attacks on Hezbollah. On Monday June 8, he similarly stated the strike was uncoordinated and planned to urge restraint. On Monday June 15, Trump told Netanyahu he is determined to finalize an Iran agreement, while a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader threatened escalation. Defense officials in Israel are said to be waiting for an agreement expected to be signed on Friday, hoping the IDF can remain along the 'yellow line' inside southern Lebanon.
The full text of Trump's latest remarks has not been independently verified by The Zioneer. The channel that relayed the comments reportedly questioned Trump's cognitive state in its coverage. It remains unclear whether the White House has communicated this position directly to the Israeli government, or whether it will affect the timeline of the expected Friday agreement.
14 developments
- StrongTrump blasts Netanyahu's Lebanon policy, urges Israel to let Syria handle Hezbollah
- ConfirmedTrump denounces IDF strikes in Beirut, calls for cessation of attacks on Hezbollah
- DevelopingTrump, in NBC Interview, Endorses 'More Surgical' Strikes on Hezbollah and Praises Syrian Leadership
- DevelopingTrump sends tough messages to Iran, warns Tehran would bear blame for escalation
Source and signal
- Internal intake