US President Donald Trump launched an extraordinary verbal attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call on Monday, telling him he would be in prison without Trump’s intervention and accusing him of ingratitude amid Israel’s escalating military actions in Lebanon.
The call, first reported by Axios citing U.S. officials and a source familiar with the details, came after Iran threatened earlier that day to withdraw from negotiations with the United States over Israeli operations in Lebanon.
According to two sources familiar with the conversation, Trump called Netanyahu “crazy” and accused him of being ungrateful. Trump also halted an Israeli plan to strike Beirut during the call, Axios reported.
A U.S. official quoted by Axios said Trump warned Netanyahu that carrying out threats to bomb the Lebanese capital would further isolate Israel internationally. Trump also told Netanyahu that he had helped the Israeli leader avoid prison, referring to his political support during Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial.
One U.S. official summarized Trump’s remarks to Netanyahu as: “You’re completely crazy. You would be in jail if I hadn’t intervened. I saved your ass. Everyone hates you now. Everyone hates Israel because of this.”
Another source familiar with the call told Axios that Trump was “very angry” and at one point shouted at Netanyahu: “What the hell are you doing?”
Source: Axios (edited by Al-Manar)