President Donald Trump said Tuesday he has good relations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but that Netanyahu needs to be 'more responsible' regarding Lebanon. Trump claimed the fighting there has dragged on too long and suggested Syria should handle Hezbollah instead of Israel, saying Syria 'would do it better,' according to Trump's remarks as reported by Israeli media.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday he maintains good relations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but urged him to take a 'more responsible' approach in Lebanon, according to remarks reported by Israeli media. Trump characterized the fighting on the northern front as having 'gone on too long' and proposed that Syria, rather than Israel, take the lead against Hezbollah, asserting that Syrian actors 'would do it better.'
The comments, which surfaced at 13:18 Jerusalem time, follow a series of Trump statements on the Lebanon theater. As The Zioneer reported earlier Tuesday (12:59 Jerusalem), Trump had already told Netanyahu to be 'more responsible' on Lebanon. At 13:05, he was quoted suggesting that if Israel cannot handle Hezbollah, 'Syrian al-Sharaa will — and do it better.' At 13:14, Trump was reported telling Israel it could 'leave Hezbollah to Syria.' This latest remark adds Trump's explicit claim of good personal ties with Netanyahu to the same thread of criticism.
Trump's broader position on the Israeli-Hezbollah front, documented over the past week, has included calls for more 'surgical' strikes against Hezbollah (June 7), praise for Syrian leadership, and statements that dialogue with Hezbollah is needed (June 15). It remains unclear whether Trump's suggestions reflect actual U.S. policy proposals or personal commentary; the White House has not issued an official readout of any conversation with the Israeli premier.
4 developments
- ConfirmedTrump denounces IDF strikes in Beirut, calls for cessation of attacks on Hezbollah
- StrongTrump: If Israel can't avoid killing everyone in Lebanon, let Syria do the job
- DevelopingTrump, in NBC Interview, Endorses 'More Surgical' Strikes on Hezbollah and Praises Syrian Leadership
- Confirmed"The Zioneer" — exclusive: Trump says Israel's Beirut strike was 'not coordinated' with the US, intends to call Netanyahu to urge restraint
Source and signal
- Internal intake