Netanyahu Abandons Planned Beirut Strikes After Trump Call
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dropped plans for major strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut following a Monday call with President Trump. The decision came amid U.S.-Iran negotiations and domestic pressure on Netanyahu ahead of an October election.
jpost.comIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abandoned plans for major strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut after a Monday phone call with President Trump. The call followed Iranian threats to abandon negotiations with the U.S. and to launch missiles at Israel if the strikes proceeded.
Trump directed Netanyahu to back down from the Beirut plan to avoid disrupting Lebanon and the Iran talks, an Israeli source said. Netanyahu complied and later moved to address perceptions of a rift between the two leaders.
Netanyahu faces criticism at home over ongoing Hezbollah attacks and has not delivered on earlier pledges to destroy Hamas or pursue regime change in Iran. Each border siren reporting incoming fire increases domestic calls for a response. Rivals and some government allies accused Netanyahu of turning Israel into an American "vassal" after the call.
Netanyahu told CNBC that he and Trump have argued before but maintained their partnership.
On Wednesday, Israeli and Lebanese diplomats in Washington announced a plan for a full ceasefire contingent on steps by Hezbollah. It remains unclear whether the militia will accept the terms. Trump stated on Wednesday that he is trying to separate the Israel-Hezbollah conflict from the war with Iran and believes a deal with Iran could be reached as early as this weekend.
Netanyahu has expressed skepticism about both restraint in Lebanon and a deal with Iran.
Transparency
Story details
Related Stories
The HillBrown Leads Husted 53-45 in Ohio Senate Race, Fox News Poll Finds
A Fox News survey of 1,015 Ohio registered voters found 53 percent support for the Democratic Senate nominee and 45 percent for the Republican nominee. President Trump's favorability in the state stood at 42 percent.
ABC NewsSenate Republicans Advance $70 Billion Border Security Package
The Senate cleared a procedural vote Wednesday for a nearly $70 billion border and ICE funding measure. Amendments targeting a now-defunct $2 billion Justice Department fund could alter the bill's path.
arstechnica.comSupreme Court Allows FCC In-House Fines Against Wireless Carriers, Rejects Jury-Trial Challenge in 8-1 Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that the FCC can continue issuing initial penalties through internal proceedings. The decision resolves a split between appeals courts over AT&T and Verizon challenges.