US President Donald Trump has reportedly called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “crazy” in a tense phone call over the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.
On the call, which Mr Trump revealed took place on Monday, he reportedly blew up at the Israeli Prime Minister, calling him ungrateful and claiming he would be in prison if it weren’t for him.
“You’re f..king crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass,” Mr Trump reportedly said in the call, according to Axios, which cited a US official.
“Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this,” he reportedly added.
The outlet reported the source saying Mr Trump “steamrolled” Mr Netanyahu in the tense phone call, who added: “Bibi said, ‘OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of’.”
Both Axios and The Times of Israel said that Mr Netanyahu’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the reported call.
The explosive claims come as Mr Trump attempts to prevent Middle East tensions from boiling over again.
In recent days, Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged strikes.
Iran state media reported on Monday that Tehran had walked away from US-Iran ceasefire talks over Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah, and deeper military incursion in Lebanon.
Mr Trump now claims that Israel is turning troops around and will stop striking Hezbollah. The US President also revealed he had spoken to representatives of Hezbollah, a terrorist organisation, who he says agreed to stop striking Israel.
Mr Netanyahu publicly said that the IDF would continue to operate in southern Lebanon.
“Tonight, I spoke with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities and citizens—Israel will attack terror targets in Beirut,” he said in a statement. “This stance of ours remains unchanged. In parallel, the IDF will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon.”
Mr Trump’s version was a little different.
“I had a conversation with Bibi Netanyahu today, asking him not to go into a major raid of Beirut, Lebanon,” Mr Trump wrote on X.
“He turned his Troops around. Thank you Bibi!
“I also had a conversation with Representatives of the Leaders of Hezbollah, and they agreed to stop shooting at Israel, and its soldiers.
“Likewise, Israel agreed to stop shooting at them. Let’s see how long that lasts — Hopefully it will be for ETERNITY!”
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s Minister of National Security and Chairman of Otzma Yehudit told Mr Netanyahu now was the time to say no to Mr Trump’s demands.
“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’,” he wrote on X.
“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.”
Tehran has not yet responded to Mr Trump’s claims that Israel will not go ahead with a Beirut raid, however, the US President believes that a ceasefire deal can still be achieved and soon.
“Talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he said on Truth Social.
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