Netanyahu Tells Cabinet: Trump Said, 'You Had No Casualties, Don't Strike Back'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed to cabinet ministers details of the late-night dialogue he held with U.S. President Donald Trump, just hours before the aircraft took off to strike in Iran. The main evening broadcast reported tonight, Tuesday, that according to Netanyahu, the American president explicitly asked him “not to attack.” Netanyahu also told ministers that Trump justified the request by saying, “You had no casualties,” and urged Israel to show restraint, adding, “Don’t hit them back.”

Yesterday, Channel 13 reported that during the marathon talks held by senior officials in Jerusalem with the political leadership in Washington, the prime minister demanded strikes on energy facilities in Iran, but the American president blocked this and told him, “Strike and close the matter.” Israeli officials briefed on the content of the call clarified that the president meant Israel should act, but “not attack in a way that would lead to war.”

Last night, Trump told the BBC that “if I tell Netanyahu to do something, he does it.” He also claimed that all it took to stop the strike was telling the prime minister: “Think sensibly. We are about to sign a good and powerful agreement.” Even so, the American president said Netanyahu did not “disobey him,” because by the time the two spoke, the missiles had already been launched from Israel and “there was nothing to do about it.”

Meanwhile, Trump announced overnight that his country was expected to declare a “total victory” in Iran within two weeks. “We are negotiating now, they are ready to give us everything, and ready for there to be no nuclear weapons in Iran.” At the same time, Vice President J.D. Vance said in an interview with Fox News that “our main goal is preventing nuclear weapons from Iran, and we have created room to build a long-term deal on the issue.” Vance noted that “Israel may like it or not, but this is what is good for the United States.” “Israel and the United States have many shared interests, but also some conflicting interests,” Vance said, while noting the president’s “drive” for a deal.