Netanyahu Faces Domestic Criticism After Trump Blocks Beirut Raid: 'Losing Control Over Israeli Sovereignty'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing criticism from across Israel's political spectrum on Tuesday after backing away from threats to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut following pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.

The backlash came after Trump said he had intervened directly to stop what he described as a planned Israeli operation against the Lebanese capital. In posts on Truth Social, Trump said he held a "productive call" with Netanyahu and claimed Israel had agreed not to carry out a "major raid" on Beirut.

"He turned his Troops around. Thank you Bibi!" Trump wrote, adding that Hezbollah had also agreed that "all shooting will stop." Israeli military sources later told The Times of Israel that no troops had actually been on their way to Beirut.

Netanyahu had earlier announced that he had instructed the military to prepare strikes on Beirut in response to Hezbollah drone and rocket attacks on northern Israel, amid some of the heaviest fighting since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was announced in April.

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The apparent reversal triggered criticism from both the opposition and members of Netanyahu's own coalition, as The Financial Times points out. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett accused him of "losing control over Israeli sovereignty," while opposition leader Yair Lapid said Israel was being treated like a "vassal state."

Former military chief and opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot wrote on X that "there has never been a prime minister in Israel who accepted such a humiliating demand" while far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also urged Netanyahu to resist U.S. pressure, writing: "this is the time to tell our friend, President Trump — 'no.'"

According to Axios, Trump angrily pressed Netanyahu during the call, accusing him of undermining U.S. efforts to secure a broader ceasefire arrangement involving Iran. The outlet cited U.S. officials saying Trump told Netanyahu: "You're fucking crazy," and warned him that "everybody hates Israel because of this."

The tensions came as Iran suspended talks with Washington over extending a separate ceasefire with the U.S., citing Israel's military operations in Lebanon and Gaza. Iranian officials have insisted any extension of the truce must include a halt to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Despite Trump's announcement, hostilities continued into Tuesday. Hezbollah launched rockets and drones toward northern Israel, while Lebanese media reported additional Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon.

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