A senior Israeli source quoted by Al-Monitor says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is being squeezed by rising U.S. pressure and domestic politics, after President Donald Trump’s recent stance on the war appeared to shift sharply. The source said Netanyahu’s silence after Trump’s latest remarks reflected how exposed he is, caught between Washington and a growing political challenge at home.
The unnamed Netanyahu aide said, “Trump is finishing off the prime minister,” calling the change “an unimaginable and hair-raising development.” The source argued that Trump’s apparent reversal, driven by a desire to end the unpopular war with Iran, could damage any Israeli politician he chooses to back in the October election. “The Israeli public may turn against Netanyahu exactly as Trump did,” the source said.
According to the same official, Hezbollah has been badly weakened by Israeli strikes since October 8, 2023, when it entered the fighting after the Palestinian attack the day before, but in recent months it has adopted deadlier tactics, including explosive drones against Israeli troops and border communities. The source warned that if Trump forces another ceasefire and demands an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, Netanyahu “can say goodbye to the election,” because he would not be able to defend such a move to Likud voters and the right wing.
Trump called his dispute with Netanyahu over Lebanon a “small disagreement.” Speaking to reporters at the G7 summit on Wednesday, he said, “You don’t need to destroy a building every time someone who enters it is from Hezbollah.” The source also said a new strike on Iran would be far riskier because surprise is gone, Iran has learned lessons, and Tehran will soon have significant resources to rebuild its capabilities. The source concluded that Netanyahu is raising the threats for political reasons, while Israel heads toward elections expected at the end of October.
