Weekend diplomacy between Washington and Jerusalem reportedly spiraled into what one source called “a shouting match from hell.” Ynet reports President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clashed by phone over whether to restart military strikes on Iran, with Netanyahu urging renewed action and Trump pushing to extend diplomatic efforts instead. Netanyahu’s office rejected the account as “fake news” and “complete nonsense,” saying the call was not difficult.
The dispute, if accurate, underscores a widening gap: Netanyahu is publicly arguing that Iran’s nuclear threat can only be removed by toppling its rulers, while Trump has lately downplayed the need for fresh military moves, saying force doesn’t currently appear “very necessary” even as he insists the US remains “locked and loaded.” “Netanyahu calls him every day [to urge him to resume the war],” a source briefed on the discussions tells the Financial Times. “Those who don’t want a war within the White House and outside have been trying to combat that.”