
WASHINGTON: The United States is holding peace talks with Iran to end the Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, Israel is moving forward with a strong military operation in Lebanon. The phone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu is currently being discussed. Trump is reported to have strongly criticized Israel's attacks in Lebanon.
Trump lashed out at Netanyahu over the phone after Iran said it would withdraw from talks with the US, citing Israel's attack on Hezbollah targets in southern Beirut as a ceasefire violation. Axios reports that Trump told Netanyahu that the threat to bomb the Lebanese capital would further isolate Israel around the world.
Trump accused Netanyahu of taking actions that not only isolated Israel but also jeopardized US diplomatic efforts with Iran. The report says that Trump was angered by the fact that Israel launched the attack in Lebanon with the knowledge of US, but that it went beyond the limits and civilians were killed in the attack.
US officials said that Trump also called Netanyahu ungrateful and crazy. Media reports said Trump also claimed he had helped prevent Netanyahu from going to prison during his corruption trial and that he was not grateful for it. ‘You’re fucking crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I am saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this,’ Trump told Netanyahu, according to the Axios report.