'We are already hearing the bus': Israeli insiders fear Netanyahu is losing Trump’s backing on Iran
“He couldn’t afford a confrontation with Trump, who was the last asset he had left,” a Netanyahu associate told Al-Monitor, describing the prime minister’s struggle to balance pressure for retaliation against Iran with the need to preserve his alliance with the US president.
TEL AVIV — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had hoped to strike Hezbollah in Beirut and then launch a third round of attacks against Iran on Monday after an Iranian missile barrage against northern Israel, but US President Donald Trump opposed the move, forcing him to halt the escalation, Israeli diplomatic sources told Al-Monitor.
According to the diplomatic sources, Israeli Air Force planes were on the runways on Monday morning making final preparations for a third round of attacks that day against Iran. The operation was expected to be more significant than the previous two strikes, which had been carried out at 3 a.m. and again at 7 a.m. local Tel Aviv time. Then the White House called — for the second time in less than 24 hours.
Trump was unequivocal, telling Netanyahu to stand down the aircraft. The diplomatic sources told Al-Monitor that Trump warned him against moving toward another war. Netanyahu returned to the underground military operations headquarters in Tel Aviv and informed the assembled military leadership, along with Defense Minister Israel Katz, about the call.
Netanyahu, the diplomatic sources said, told Israel’s top soldier, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Omer Tishler that Trump was adamant and that Israel could not spoil his plans for the deal he believes he can get with Iran. Nonetheless, Netanyahu added, Trump also insists on maintaining sanctions on Iran, as well as keeping its frozen funds in place, and refuses to back down on the demand to remove Iran’s enriched uranium. “We’re on the same page,” Netanyahu said, according to the sources. “Let’s give him a chance.”
