According to Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, translated from X:
“Mr. Prime Minister,
You said that a strong prime minister tells the President of the United States—’yes’ when possible, and ‘no’—when necessary.
This is the time to tell our friend, President Trump—’no’.
Now is the time to do what is required and necessary to strike Hezbollah, to unleash the hands of our fighters, and to restore security to the north.”
Ben-Gvir’s words did not represent antagonism or ingratitude toward Trump, but a firm response informing the president that Israel as a sovereign nation must do what it needs to do in its own interests.
Ben-Gvir was referring to Trump’s earlier post:
See an analysis HERE.
One leader does not have a right to direct the affairs of another nation. The pro-Trump, America-First argument for the war against the Islamic Republic of Iran has been that the Islamic Republic and its proxies threatened not just Israel, but America as well, and therefore it was in America’s interests to work with its ally Israel against the Islamic Republic. America remains threatened. Yet, Trump’s withdrawal certainly should not mean that Israel should obey whatever Trump commands, as Ben-Gvir politely indicates.
In followup, Trump and Netanyahu spoke on the phone, and Trump announced an agreement by Israel that “there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back.” Netanyahu then stated that “Hezbollah had agreed that all shooting will stop…That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel.” But since Muhammad declared “War is deceit” (Sunan Abī Dāwūd 2637), consider Hizballah’s agreement a big lie. Every ceasefire agreement that jihadists agree to, they invariably break. With that in mind, Netanyahu told Trump that “if Hezbollah doesn’t stop attacking our towns and citizens – Israel will attack terror targets in Beirut.”
Later on in the day, “Israel issued a new evacuation warning for the southern city of Nabatiyeh before new strikes, accusing the ‘Hezbollah terror organisation’ of violating the ceasefire.” Dozens of airstrikes were then launched across Southern Lebanon.
“Israeli officials condemn Netanyahu’s response to Donald Trump, canceled Lebanon strike,” by Danya Saperstein, Jerusalem Post, June 2, 2026:
Multiple Israeli officials took to social media to criticize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to cancel a strike on Beirut at the urging of US President Donald Trump on Monday.
“This is the time to tell our friend, President Trump – ‘no’,” National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote on X/Twitter, reminding Netanyahu that he once said a strong prime minister would be able to tell the president of the US no when necessary.
“Now is the time to do what is required and necessary to strike Hezbollah,” Ben-Gvir added.
Former IDF chief of staff and Yashar! Party leader Gadi Eisenkot also referenced Netanyahu’s past remarks regarding Trump.
Calling Trump’s directive “a humiliating demand, one that is blatantly unreasonable,” Eisenkot added that Netanyahu “is the man who preached morals to everyone about the basic need to be a prime minister and know how to say ‘no’ to the President of the United States.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of behaving as though Israel were a protectorate state of the US. Lapid had called for a “powerful response” to the rocket fire from Lebanon on Saturday, writing that “the responsibility for the security of Israeli citizens lies solely with the Israeli government.”
MK Oded Forer urged Netanyahu to “fulfill his role and act to protect the residents of the North.”
Northern Israel under attack
The criticisms come as northern Israel continues to come under a barrage of missiles and drones, with multiple municipal leaders in the north condemning the government’s handling of the situation…
Renanah Goldhar-Gemeiner says
I and my friends in Canada send our support to you PM Netanyahu and Ben Gvir and leaders:
We should be there with you and our chidren should be figjhting with you!
I’m sorry we are not.
But we can help from here – and one way is to cmmunciate our support for you: PLEASE DEFEND ISRAEL even if it means to say No to President Trump at this time, for this.
with love from Cananda
Hugh Fitzgerald says
Given that Hezbollah has already broken its promise not to launch missiles and drones at Israel, the IDF should announce that it will now resume attacking Hezbollah positions in Beirut. And no more expleitives, please, from Donald Trump, who presumes to dictate to the embattled Jewish state what it is permitted to do and what it cannot be allowed to do.
gravenimage says
+1
David Lakatos says
Being soft on Islam will get your throat slit.
David Lakatos says
Islam needs to be obliterated from the face of the earth.
Neville Thompson says
Isn’t the USA a protector of the State of Israel because that is how many people throughout the world see it ?
Most of everything to do with Israel security was funded by US tax payers we are frequently reminded of .
Hugh Fitzgerald says
The U.S. did not “protect” Israel in the wars the Jewish state fought in 1968, 1956, 1967, and 1973. Since then he U.S. has provided military aid but can hardly be called Israel’s ‘protector.
When it comes to fighting terror groups, the jihadis who are intent on ultimately subjugating not just Jews but all non-Muslims, Israel has been doing the heavy lifting.
gravenimage says
Spot on, Hugh.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I think Netanyahu has done his job well, but should not stand in the next election. Instead, the Likud coalition’s next prime ministerial candidate should be either Ben Gvir or Smotrich. Once they are there, the US will have to abandon the strategy of arm-twisting Jerusalem whenever it can
Fully agree w/ Ben Gvir on this one
Stive says
There was no USA aid or help until after the 6 day war of ,1967. 1948-1968, america did nothing for Israel. In fact, in the 1950s the soviets blocked american u.n. sponsored resolutions to take west Jerusalem from Israel to unite with east Jerusalem to piut under u.n. control. Netanyahu needs to tell trump No, even possibly to win reelection. Netanyahu is scared of trump as many leaders are.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
In fact, until 1956, the Soviets were actually pro-Israel, since they saw that country as a quasi-socialist country, which it was, and remained even during the Begin & Shamir eras. However, it was in 1956 that they discovered new allies in the secular Arab regimes of Nasser as well as those in Syria and Iraq, and therefore switched sides
Also, in the 1950s, the US under Eisenhower was squarely on the Arab side: it was Kennedy who changed the policy to be more pro Israel, and Carter who reversed that
James Lincoln says
Moving forward, Israel will become less and less dependent on the United States for military hardware, logistics, etc.
They will be start making decisions in keeping with “Israel First” – after learning a harsh lesson from the current Trump Administration.
And Israel will be seeking other strategic allies – if there are any…
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Yeah, they’re already working on it. Already, they have a far healthier economy than the US, and once they attain self-sufficiency in arms production, they won’t need US anymore
Only disadvantage they have: lack of alternatives. They’re not likely to ever be pro-Moscow, since they have the ugly history w/ both the Romanovs and the Soviets, and Putin hasn’t made things any better. While the Chicoms are not antisemitic per se, they have been allying w/ all of Israel’s enemies in their attempt to win over all 50+ OIC countries into the belt/road empire. Who else is left? India has a very mushy regime under that Gandhian named Modi, and the EU is very pro-islamic. Israel could seek friends in Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, but who else?
But I do think that once Israel attains not just economic but also military independence, where they no longer need our military “aid”, they can give us a well deserved 🖕 while they do their next operation, be it against islamic forces in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Judea/Samaria, Yemen, Turkey or anyone else
James Lincoln says
Infidel,
Thanks for your reply.
Excellent analysis.
JS says
It’s as if Trump is taking his suicidal empathy orders from Qatar.
As a 3 time Trump voter I can’t be more disappointed in him. First about Hamas, then his lack of cleaning up the jihadis in the US, then his insistence on making a “deal” with the lying Islamic IRGC, and now with Hezbollah.
Not only is he destroying nations like the US and Israel, but the Iranian people too. It’s almost too frustrating to watch. He’s behaving like a dminni infidel – just what they wanted.
gravenimage says
Israeli officials condemn Netanyahu’s short-lived decision to cancel strike on Beirut at Trump’s demand
…………………………………………….
I think the real question is what the heck is President Trump thinking?