New York : US President Donald Trump reportedly lashed out at Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a heated phone call over Israel's escalation in Lebanon, which threatens to jeopardise the ongoing peace talks with Iran to end the Middle East conflict. On the call, the US leader called Netanyahu "crazy" and accused him of ingratitude, according to a report by Axios.
Citing US officials and a third source briefed on the call, the American publication reported that Trump has also put the brakes on Israel's plan to strike Beirut. He reportedly told the Israeli leader that the Israeli threats to bomb the Lebanese capital would further isolate Israel around the world.
Trump also reportedly put the brakes on Israel's plan to strike Beirut.
Trump also claimed he had helped keep Netanyahu out of jail -- a reference to his support during the Israeli leader's corruption trial.
"You're fucking crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this," Trump told Netanyahu, according to the Axios report.
At one point, a source said Trump got "pissed" with Netanyahu and asked him, "What the fuck are you doing?"
Before the call, Trump reportedly knew Hezbollah, the Iranian proxy militia operating from Lebanon, had been shooting at Israel and that Tel Aviv needed to defend itself. But sources said that Trump felt, in recent days, Netanyahu was escalating in a disproportionate way.
In addition to the threats on Beirut, Israel has been expanding its ground operation in southern Lebanon. Trump was reportedly angry over the fact that Netanyahu's decision to escalate in Lebanon was threatening to implode his negotiations with Iran.
US sources told Axios that the president had been concerned that too many Lebanese civilians and had objected to the Israeli plan of knocking down buildings to take out a single Hezbollah commander.
After the call, an Israeli official told Axios that the Jewish state no longer plans to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut.
