Why Netanyahu caved to Trump on Lebanon and what it means for Israel
Israelis express anger that the prime minister's maneuvering to stay out of jail has allowed the US to once again "hijack" foreign policy and national security decision-making.
TEL AVIV — President Donald Trump’s unilateral announcement of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which took effect April 17, has left many Israelis angry and feeling that their government has lost control over the country's sovereignty and vital security interests. The target of their anger is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On Friday, Trump doubled down on instructing Israel to stop the bombardment in neighboring Lebanon. "Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are prohibited by the U.S.A. Enough is enough," he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump’s decision
"It was Trump's decision, not Israel's," a senior political source in Netanyahu's coalition told Al-Monitor, speaking on condition of anonymity. "It was forced on us. That’s the truth — exactly like what happened with Gaza," the source clarified, referring to Trump’s unilateral announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in October 2025 after two years of fighting. "What we saw here is Trump's hijacking of Israel's foreign policy and sovereignty."
