Netanyahu Tells Cabinet Trump Urged Restraint on Iran, While IDF Says It Can Act Alone

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ministers in a cabinet meeting on Monday night about a tense call he held the night before with President Donald Trump, as Washington tried to restrain Israel’s response to attacks by Iran and Hezbollah. The exchange came after Iran struck Israel in response to an Israeli operation in Beirut’s Dahieh neighborhood.

According to Netanyahu’s account, reported by Yedioth Ahronoth, Trump tried to downplay the severity of the situation and asked him, “Did they kill your people?” Netanyahu said he replied, “No, they did not kill anyone, but I do not accept the equation that we only respond if people are killed. If they attack inside the territory of Israel, I respond and attack.”

Netanyahu also pushed back against criticism in Israel that the country had become a de facto American protectorate. “We are not subordinate to the Americans, we are their allies,” he told ministers. “When you have a partner, you act with him like a partner, we do not work against them but with them.” He added that he told Trump he understood his desire to reach an agreement, but “I think there will be no agreement, and we will not be the victim of that agreement.”

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said the army could operate independently if necessary, stressing that the military has not yet used all its capabilities. “We could have struck harder in Iran. We are prepared for a significant and intense wave of strikes, and we have endurance for an intense campaign alone against Iran. Of course, we prefer to do it with the partner,” he said.

Zamir described maintaining ties with the Pentagon and the U.S. military as a top strategic goal, while Military Intelligence chief Shlomi Binder said Iran’s regional strategy has been badly disrupted and Hezbollah is in retreat. The head of AMAN’s research division said Tehran’s recent response was limited, indicating an effort to avoid a full-scale war.