Trump Challenges Netanyahu as Iran Demands Lebanon Withdrawal

Netanyahu recently vowed that Israeli troops would maintain “security zones” in Lebanon indefinitely, a stance that has prompted open defiance from his cabinet. Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Defense Minister Israel Katz explicitly rejected the U.S.-Iran memorandum, asserting that Israel operates as a sovereign entity unbound by foreign agreements. This occupation has already displaced over one million civilians and leveled entire villages, creating a direct collision course with the terms of the recent ceasefire.

Faced with a brewing diplomatic crisis, Trump delivered an uncharacteristically sharp rebuke of his ally during the G7 summit in France. Describing a recent Israeli airstrike in Beirut as “vicious,” the president questioned the necessity of Israel’s destructive tactics against civilian infrastructure. While Trump claimed credit for Israel’s existence, he warned Netanyahu that his current path undermines the broader deal with Tehran. Critics remain skeptical of this shift, pointing out that despite the president’s rhetoric, his administration continues to supply the military aid fueling the ongoing conflict.