Trump and Netanyahu at the Knesset . Jerusalem, October 13, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/File Photo
While Benjamin Netanyahu has long portrayed himself to the Israeli public as being uniquely adept in dealing with Donald Trump, an acrimonious phone call this week laid bare the strains that have at times emerged between the two leaders.
Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the call was among the most heated the premier has had with Trump. One of the officials said the leak had damaged Netanyahu politically ahead of this year's national election.
Trump had angrily confronted Netanyahu over Israeli threats to resume air strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs. He told Netanyahu not to target Beirut after Iran had warned that Israeli strikes in Lebanon were undermining talks to end the war, which began with joint US-Israeli attacks and which is deeply unpopular among Americans.
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