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Trump scolds Netanyahu
U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged that during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he used harsh language, telling The New York Post that he called Netanyahu “crazy.”
“Trump acknowledges calling Netanyahu ‘crazy’ and says Israel is complicating peace talks with Iran Trump acknowledges calling Netanyahu ‘crazy’ and says Israel is complicating peace talks with Iran BEIRUT (AP) — President Donald Trump acknowledged criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “crazy” in a phone call that involved expletives, saying he was “a little bit perturbed” that Israel’s fighting with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon was holding back peace talks with Iran”
The AP reported Trump said he was “a little bit perturbed” that Israel’s fighting with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon was holding back peace talks with Iran.
The call took place on June 1, after Netanyahu announced on May 25 plans to intensify attacks on the Iranian-backed Shiite group Hezbollah.
Trump said he and Netanyahu “work very well together,” and in the same AP account he described their relationship as solid because they are both “wartime” leaders.
Ceasefire talks and replies
In the AP account, Netanyahu responded in an interview on CNBC that he and Trump sometimes have “tactical disagreements” but have “common goals” and “agree on the main things.”
The AP also described a U.S.-mediated effort in which Israel and Lebanon renewed their fragile ceasefire and created “pilot” security zones inside Lebanon from which Hezbollah militants would be banned.
A joint statement released after a fourth round of U.S.-mediated talks at the State Department said the ceasefire is contingent on “a complete cessation of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hezbollah operatives.”
The AP reported that a new round of discussions would be held during the week of June 22 with an eye toward “reaching a comprehensive agreement,” while Trump remained noncommittal about a timeline for ending the Iran war.
Beirut threat, U.S. pressure
While Trump urged de-escalation, Netanyahu told Trump that if Hezbollah did not stop attacking “our cities and our citizens, Israel will strike terrorist targets in Beirut,” according to the Times of Israël.
The Times of Israël also quoted Netanyahu saying, “Our position on this matter remains unchanged,” while adding that “the army will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon.”
France 24 reported that Hezbollah accepted a U.S. proposal for a mutual cessation of hostilities with Israel, and it quoted Trump urging both sides to stop fighting forever on the eve of Israeli-Lebanese talks in Washington.
France 24 further said the Israeli army intercepted two projectiles from Lebanon early Tuesday after Trump said Hezbollah and Israel would cease their clashes, and it quoted the army’s Telegram message about the interceptions at 1:35 a.m. (22:35 GMT).
