Trump calls out Netanyahu over Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets
Rising Middle East tensions threaten President Donald Trump's push for an Iran peace deal. Fox News details military pressure on Iran, including US strikes and a naval blockade, alongside Israel's recent strikes on Hezbollah in Beirut. Discussions center on proposed deal terms, verification mechanisms, and skepticism about Iran's commitment.
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A regional analyst says fears that President Donald Trump could "flip" on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid a critical push for a U.S.-Iran peace agreement are growing in Jerusalem, a concern highlighted Sunday after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) struck Beirut for a second time.
Despite U.S. warnings that any strikes would derail a breakthrough with Tehran, the strikes came as Netanyahu prepared to convene Israel’s Security Cabinet and after Trump announced a new U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) was expected to be signed imminently.
"The strikes today in Beirut are creating issues with finalizing the deal," a diplomat involved in the talks with Tehran told Fox News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst, adding that they were "a clear attempt by Israel to sabotage the president’s deal and drag the United States back into war."
Trump went on to condemn Israel's strikes in a post on Truth Social, also telling Axios that Netanyahu had "no f---ing judgment."
WHY TRUMP KEEPS FLIPPING ON IRAN: A PRESIDENT WHO SEES THE WORLD AS HE WANTS IT TO BE
President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., on Dec. 29, 2025. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Natan Sachs , a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, noted there was "absolutely this fear in the Israeli government," calling it "a rational and healthy fear" over the pending deal.
He said a strategic chasm existed between the two allies, contrasting Netanyahu's doctrine of sustained, long-term military pressure with Trump's pursuit of immediate diplomatic victories.
"Now there is a sense in Israel that Trump may be growing weary of Netanyahu and the Israelis, and many others believe that if he got sick and tired of him, he could break norms in other directions and flip on Israel," Sachs, an Israeli foreign policy expert , told Fox News Digital.
With discussions underway through Pakistani mediation, the Israeli prime minister's office released a statement shortly after Trump announced the possible deal with Tehran on June 11.
Jerusalem "is not a party to the memorandum of understanding" between Washington and Tehran, Netanyahu said before reiterating on June 12 that Iran was "working to destroy the Jewish state." He assured Israelis he had dedicated his life to "preventing them from doing so."
On Sunday, a senior Israeli official also said Hezbollah attacks had targeted Israeli civilians for the previous three days as Israel prepared for Iranian retaliation.
NETANYAHU DECLARES ISRAEL 'WILL EXACT THE FULL PRICE' AFTER IRANIAN STRIKE HITS HOSPITAL IN ISRAEL
President Trump’s push for a U.S.-Iran deal is fueling concern in Jerusalem that he could turn on Netanyahu as Israeli strikes in Beirut threaten to complicate negotiations. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Trump had already criticized Netanyahu during a phone call earlier this month, reportedly calling him "crazy" over a first strike on Beirut that was complicating the administration's negotiations with Iran.
"It's not just that there seems to be a crisis — and there were clearly expletives used by the president toward the prime minister on the backdrop of a joint and large military operation," Sachs said.
"Israel and Netanyahu had first looked at Trump and saw both enormous carrots and enormous potential sticks ," Sachs said of the start of Operation Epic Fury and Roaring Lion on Feb. 28.
"Trump was a huge opportunity for Netanyahu because he was willing to break the mold on anything, but Israel has made a potentially strategic, historic mistake in putting all its eggs in one basket," he added.
"Netanyahu was always prepared for the long haul," Sachs said. "And the long haul is not four months; the long haul is years. Trump likes quick wins. Once the quick win did not materialize — and it did not — now you have a whole new set of problems."
"Trump’s preference seemed far from pursuing a much broader campaign aimed at achieving the goals that Israel prefers, and he also has a much narrower conception of what a deal would be," he added.
TRUMP MEETS NETANYAHU, SAYS HE WANTS IRAN DEAL BUT REMINDS TEHRAN OF ‘MIDNIGHT HAMMER’ OPERATION
Lebanese civil defense workers search for victims in the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut, Lebanon, on April 9, 2026. (Hassan Ammar/AP)
Sachs noted, however, that Trump and Netanyahu broadly shared goals on curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions , eliminating Hezbollah's armed presence in Lebanon and establishing a post-H…
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AxiosIndependentCenter3 days agoIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed strong disapproval of President Donald Trump's Iran deal, viewing it as a strategic and political failure. Netanyahu previously promised 'total victory' against Iran but now finds himself at odds with Trump, who has signed a memorandum of understanding rather than a formal agreement. Netanyahu is isolated internationally in his opposition to the deal, with even traditionally hawkish Gulf states like the United Arab Emirates supporting it. Within the U.S., Netanyahu's allies in the Republican Party and media are hesitant to criticize the U
Bias read (Center): The article presents facts without overtly biased language or framing. It reports on Netanyahu's position and reactions from various stakeholders without taking a side or using loaded terms.
The Washington TimesIndependentRight4 days agoIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for his public remarks about Israel and Iran, including claims that Trump is responsible for Israel's creation and descriptions of Netanyahu as 'crazy.' The tensions arise as Trump seeks to finalize a deal with Iran, while Netanyahu has expressed frustration with past U.S. administrations. Analysts suggest Trump may be using his influence to push Netanyahu aside if it interferes with his goal of ending the war.
Bias read (Right): The article presents Trump's criticisms of Netanyahu in a manner that highlights Trump's assertive stance and frames Netanyahu as being challenged by Trump's actions. The language used emphasizes Trump's strong rhetoric and positions him as taking bold steps toward a deal with Iran, suggesting a pro
Official sources cited
- statement Aaron David Miller
The HillIndependentRight5 days agoTensions between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have escalated regarding their approach to ending the conflict they initiated, raising concerns about the stability of a recently signed U.S.-Iran peace agreement. Trump asserts he has blocked Iran's path to developing a nuclear weapon, while the agreement also includes provisions that reopen certain aspects of the situation.
Bias read (Right): The article frames Trump's actions as a 'victory' and emphasizes his claim of blocking Iran's nuclear program, which aligns with a pro-Israeli and pro-Trump perspective. It does not provide balanced coverage of Netanyahu's position or the potential implications of the deal from other viewpoints.
Bloomberg NewsParty-aligned🔒Left6 days agoIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced political consequences due to his close relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump, particularly after Trump negotiated a deal with Iran that many in Israel oppose.
Bias read (Left): The article frames Netanyahu's reliance on Trump as a 'liability' and implies criticism toward Trump's Iran deal, which aligns with a left-leaning perspective that often critiques U.S. foreign policy decisions involving Israel and Iran.
Fox News (World)IndependentRight7 days agoFox News reports on rising tensions in the Middle East, focusing on Israel's recent strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut and their potential impact on U.S.-Iran negotiations. The article highlights concerns in Jerusalem that President Donald Trump might change his stance on Israel amid efforts to finalize a U.S.-Iran peace deal. A diplomat involved in the talks suggested the strikes could hinder the deal's completion, while Trump criticized Israel's actions.
Bias read (Right): The article frames Israel's actions as potentially undermining U.S. interests and portrays Trump as being at odds with Netanyahu. It emphasizes concerns raised by a diplomat about Israel's strikes hindering the deal, without providing balanced counterpoints or alternative perspectives from Israeli官员
Official sources cited
- government Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)
- government Diplomat involved in U.S.-Iran talks
AxiosIndependentRight7 days ago Trump to Axios: Netanyahu has "no fucking judgment" but Iran deal still onPresident Donald Trump told Axios that the U.S.-Iran deal to end the war remains on track for Sunday, despite Israel's strike in Beirut and the potential for Iranian retaliation. Trump expressed frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him 'a fucking attack' and stating Netanyahu 'has no fucking judgment.' Trump emphasized that the deal would benefit Israel by preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Bias read (Right): The article presents Trump's strong criticism of Netanyahu using emotionally charged language ('fucking attack,' 'no fucking judgment') and frames the situation as a result of Netanyahu's actions rather than providing balanced context or alternative perspectives. The emphasis on Trump's personal dis
AxiosIndependentLeft8 days ago Trump's pending Iran deal is bitter pill for NetanyahuPresident Trump informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he expected to sign a deal with Iran soon, which Netanyahu had previously supported as a means to achieve regime change in Tehran. Netanyahu is now facing criticism from his rivals for potentially compromising Israel's position by accepting Trump's terms. The deal is not yet finalized, and Netanyahu has been kept largely out of the loop regarding Trump's negotiations.
Bias read (Left): The article frames Netanyahu's potential acceptance of Trump's Iran deal as a negative outcome, suggesting it makes Israel a 'vassal state' and highlights Netanyahu's critics. The narrative emphasizes the potential for Netanyahu to act as a 'spoiler,' implying skepticism toward the deal and favoring
Official sources cited
- government Senior U.S. official
- government U.S. source with direct knowledge
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