Netanyahu Is Getting in Trump’s Way in the Middle East

 https://mobileapp.newsweek.com/story/12020391/content.html

Iranian officials and U.S. President Donald Trump have balked at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge to escalate the war in Lebanon, exposing apparent daylight between American and Israeli leaders as talks to end the conflicts in the Middle East drag on.

Iran has said that the deal Trump seeks to end more than three months of war in the Middle East—triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic on February 28—must include Lebanon. Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, who heads Iran’s negotiating team, told Lebanese parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri that Tehran would halt talks if attacks on Lebanon continued, according to the IRNA state news agency.

With the U.S. and Iran’s appetites for war waning, and Trump looking to secure a peace deal, Netanyahu becomes an “obstacle” to the White House if he steps up the intensity of the conflict, Mekelberg said

Lacking money and support, Trump’s Board of Peace stalls in Gaza

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/06/01/trumps-board-peace-stalls-out-gaza-reconstruction/

With Hamas disarmament negotiations deadlocked and Israel taking further territory, plans for a grand Gaza reconstruction appear distant.

Seven months after President Donald Trump announced his peace plan for Gaza and more than four months since he convened his Board of Peace to implement and pay for it, the plan is stalled and expected donations to the fund it created are nonexistent.

Security and reconstruction of the destroyed territory seem a distant dream. The glitzy proposal of apartment complexes, high-tech industries and waterfront tourist resorts displayed by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and Gaza negotiator, at the board’s February meeting has been shelved. For now, the most ambitious proposal is to build temporary housing for tens of thousands of Palestinians once still-unrealized governance and security plans are in place.

Trump, who declared the Gaza war “over” when the 29-member board of world leaders gathered in Washington on Feb. 19 for its first and only meeting, pledged “we’re going to make Gaza an example of success and safety and unity.”

Netanyahu rushed to threaten Hezbollah, and Israel lost its strongest leverage in Lebanon

 https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/hyxykdhxfx

Analysis: Netanyahu was right to approve strikes on Beirut’s Dahieh, Ron Ben-Yishai argues, but by publicly threatening Hezbollah before acting, he allowed Trump to intervene and deprived Israel of one of its most effective pressure tools in Lebanon

Israel, in its current position, has little choice but to accept U.S. President Donald Trump’s dictate on Lebanon, wait to see whether his negotiations with Iran end in agreement or collapse, and only then recalculate its course on all fronts.

Israel was pushed into this position for several reasons. The first is that Trump is determined to reach understandings with Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran has conditioned any agreement on a ceasefire in the Lebanese arena as well. The second is Israel’s diplomatic, military and logistical dependence on the United States, a dependence Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cultivated, alongside the international isolation in which Israel now finds itself.

Netanyahu was therefore right to accept the recommendation of the IDF chief of staff and senior defense officials and approve a strike on the Dahieh. But instead of threatening on social media and announcing the plan in advance, he should have first allowed the air force to carry out what the IDF calls a “demonstration of capability”: bombing two or three important buildings to show Hezbollah, the Lebanese government and the Shiite community what awaits them.

Such a move would not have prevented Trump from becoming furious, shouting at Netanyahu, humiliating him and leaking the confrontation to the international media in order to appease the Iranians and keep negotiations with them alive, as he did yesterday. But at least there would have been a chance that Hezbollah and its Iranian patrons would lower the flames in Lebanon on their own initiative, to prevent the Israeli Air Force from continuing to topple buildings in the Dahieh.

The love trap: How the relationship with Trump went from gift to farce

 https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/06/02/the-love-trap-how-the-relationship-with-trump-went-from-gift-to-farce/

Negotiations with Iran are stuck because Trump has run out of cards. Every red line has been crossed, and Iran is dictating the rules. Against the backdrop of all the chatter about "love for Israel," the president continues to throw his greatest ally under the bus. There will be those who again portray the grim reality as an achievement, but the truth is that this is a terrifyingly weak president.

There is probably no way to sugarcoat the pill after the diplomatic circus we were subjected to on Sunday: Israel is being led by a sophisticated but blackmailable prime minister, trapped by his gamble from way back to put all his chips on Donald Trump; he himself is being led by that same Trump, who never ceases to surprise with the scale of his amateurism, his impatience and the fact that he is, quite simply, a terrifyingly weak president. Because what was in his post about the ceasefire? Fabrications (IDF forces were not on their way to Beirut), a deal that sells the fabrication in exchange for a real concession (the use of IDF force in response to Hezbollah's endless violations of the ceasefires), and above all, throwing an ally under the bus for the sake of "very good talks" with Hezbollah. Oh, how Ukraine understands us now.

This, incidentally, is an opportunity to recall: Beware of leaders who repeatedly remind us how much they love Israel. That simply has to set off warning lights. Why? Because at least some of them will use that card to turn an embrace into a chokehold. As one of the French marshals of the 17th century put it, although the line has been attributed elsewhere as well: "Lord, protect me from my friends. I can take care of my enemies myself."

Trump dealt Israel a strategic blow and eroded the gains against Iran

 https://www.israelhayom.com

Early fears that the US president would “turn” on Israel have become a resounding strategic blow with the leak of the harsh phone call. The operational restraint in Beirut and the jarring tones from the White House now place the flagship project of rolling back Iran’s nuclear program and striking Tehran under a major question mark. 

The Israeli leadership had early concerns about a scenario in which US President Donald Trump would "turn" on Israel, and there is no way to downplay the scale of the strategic blow contained in the "shouting call" Trump held Monday night with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and especially in its publication.

This war dragged on for quite some time largely because of Trump himself, who apparently believed it would be much faster. His administration officials did not foresee the Iranian regime's ability to ignore its military defeat and economic collapse, and to keep playing to the limit the remaining cards it held in the Strait of Hormuz and against the Gulf states.

Israel had warned, mainly during the latest round of negotiations, that Iran was seeking to drag out time in order to benefit from the unfreezing of funds that would help the regime recover. But Israel's firm opposition to the memorandum of understandings on the table triggered significant anger among the officials in the US administration promoting the move, and sparked suspicion that Israel was trying to torpedo it.

That is exactly how Washington interpreted Israel's expanding offensive in Lebanon. And although the administration knew in advance of Israel's intention to strike in Beirut because of Hezbollah's continued fire, the call between Trump and Netanyahu took a difficult and negative turn after Iran threatened to abandon the diplomatic contacts.

Divine Providence for Everything?

 Kuzari (5:20): … The Prime Will is manifest when the Divine Presence is amongst the Jews. However after the destruction of the Temple it became doubtful - except in the hearts of those who have faith - whether specific events were the result of the direct command of G d or the Heavenly spheres or were accidents. There is no definitive way to resolve this issue. Nonetheless it is best to attribute everything that happens to G d, especially major things such as death, victory, war, success and bad fortune.

Trump lashed out at Netanyahu over Lebanon: 'You'd be in prison if not for me'

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1zx5riemg

U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his announcement that the IDF would strike Beirut, Axios reported, citing three U.S. officials. According to two of the sources, Trump called Netanyahu “crazy” and accused him of ingratitude during their phone call, before ordering him to cancel the strikes.

Axios said one U.S. official noted that Trump knew Hezbollah had been firing at Israel and that Israel needed to defend itself, but felt in recent days that Netanyahu was escalating in a disproportionate way. Another source said Trump was concerned that Israel had killed so many Lebanese civilians and objected to Israel knocking down buildings in Beirut to kill a single Hezbollah commander.

But despite the understandings, sirens continued to sound in northern Israel Monday night and into the early morning. After three hours of quiet following Trump’s post, alerts sounded in the Galilee Panhandle and then in the western Galilee, including Shlomi. The IDF said a rocket fell near Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. Under the understandings, Hezbollah apparently could still fire at Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, raising the question of whether fire at forces inside Israeli territory was also covered by the arrangement. Overnight, sirens sounded in dozens of northern communities and two launches crossing from Lebanon were intercepted. At the same time, a drone exploded near the border.

The difficult call between Trump and Netanyahu

 'You're f***ing crazy': The difficult call between Trump and Netanyahu

Axios reports that Trump fiercely berated Netanyahu in a phone call on Monday, forcing Israel to cancel its planned Beirut strikes.

A high-stakes telephone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deteriorated into a volatile, profanity-laced confrontation on Monday, according to accounts provided to Axios by two American officials and an additional briefed source.

The explosive clash was triggered after Iran threatened earlier in the day to walk away from diplomatic negotiations with the United States in protest of Israel's military operations in Lebanon.

Officials clarified that while the US president recognized Israel's inherent right to defend itself against ongoing rocket fire from Hezbollah, he believed Netanyahu's recent maneuvers - including a broadened ground incursion in southern Lebanon - had crossed into a disproportionate escalation.

Behind the scenes, however, American officials painted a vastly different picture of capitulation. The second US official claimed that Trump completely "steamrolled" the Prime Minister during the encounter. According to that official's account, Netanyahu ultimately yielded to the pressure, responding with: "OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of."

Iran Gets Trump to Rescue Hezbollah

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/iran-hezbollah-lebanon-israel-cease-fire-donald-trump-1edf1c6a?mod=hp_opin_pos_3

Iran’s regime began Monday by throwing a wrench into negotiations with the U.S., and President Trump spent the rest of the day scrambling to satisfy Iran’s demand. The result is a new cease-fire in Lebanon, rescuing Hezbollah for the moment, though the terrorists didn’t abide by the first cease-fire for even a day.

Hezbollah began this war with Israel on March 2, firing on soldiers and civilian targets on the orders of its Iranian patrons. The first Lebanon cease-fire was announced April 17 after Iran’s regime had said Israeli retaliation against Hezbollah was preventing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Mr. Trump pressured Israel and delivered the cease-fire, but Iran reneged on Hormuz—and its Hezbollah proxy kept firing.

Time to say no to Trump: Israeli officials condemn Netanyahu's decision to cancel Lebanon strike

 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-898056

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.

'Thank you Bibi!' Trump thanks Netanyahu for halting Beirut strike

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427972

US President Donald Trump thanked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for agreeing to stop a planned strike in Beirut, while also expressing hope that the ceasefire will last “for eternity".

Earlier on Monday, Trump wrote on Truth Social, following a phone call with Netanyahu, that Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to stop attacking each other.

Netanyahu also issued a statement following his conversation with Trump.

“I spoke this evening with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities and civilians, Israel will strike terrorist targets in Beirut. This position remains unchanged. At the same time, the IDF will continue operating in southern Lebanon as planned," Netanyahu said.

Trump’s DOJ Says It Will Drop ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund Amid GOP Revolt

 https://www.newsweek.com/trump-doj-drops-anti-weaponization-fund-court-block-gop-revolt-12018512

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Monday it will comply with a federal court order temporarily blocking its proposed “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” despite strongly disagreeing with the ruling, as backlash mounted from Republicans over the initiative.

The judge ruled that the fund is on pause for the two-week period, according to court documents. President Donald Trump is now reconsidering whether to move ahead with a $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate his allies, a person familiar with his thinking told the Associated Press.

In a statement, the DOJ criticized a judge in the Eastern District of Virginia for the decision that delays the fund, which it said was intended to support individuals who believed they had been unfairly targeted or persecuted, regardless of political affiliation.

DOJ provided its statement to Newsweek via email, "The Department of Justice disagrees strongly with the decision on the Anti-Weaponization Fund put forth by the United States District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia, wherein the Court stated that, under no circumstances, may the Department of Justice proceed with the Anti-Weaponization Fund recently established in order to make up for the tremendous abuse, harm, and hate unfairly shown to so many people. This Fund was open to anybody who was so weaponized, targeted, or persecuted, whether they were Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Independent, or otherwise. The Department will abide by the Court’s ruling."

Importance of a living teacher and not only Books

 LikuteiMoharan(19:09) Everyone wonders: Why is it necessary to travel to the tzaddik to hear ethical teachings directly from him, when it is possible to study the ethical teachings from books? But, the truth is that there is a great advantage to visiting the tzaddik. For there is a big difference between someone who hears directly from the true tzaddik himself and between hearing something from a teacher, from a student, or seeing it inside a book. Each time it descends from level to level, becoming increasingly distant from the tzaddik. So, too, between someone who hears it directly from the tzaddik and someone who studies from a book there is an even greater difference. For the tzaddikim are, “strong warriors doing His word.” Especially when trying to understand the word of G-d in Hebrew with which the world was created and also since G-d consulted with the souls of tzadikim before He created the world Thus the tzadikm are described as doing G-d’s word In fact each time the tzadik wants to understand properly the word of G-d he first concretises it through speech and doing mitzvos.. Thus, these words came into existence and were constructed by them. This corresponds to, “Doing His word, to hear the sound of His word.” When they want to hear G-d’s’s word, they first make the word—this being “doing His word.” Then afterwards, they hear that word from G-d—this being “to hear the sound of His word.” It is with this word that G-d talks to them

Tzadik debates Scholars

 Likutei Moharan (63:06) Now, there is a serpent with an ant inside its mouth. He signifies the scholar of the generation, The ant that lies inside the serpent’s mouth signifies the tzaddik of the generation, who is upright and righteous and possesses good character traits. Because he is wise and involves himself in scholarship and philosophical investigation, probing these wisdoms, this tzaddik suffers greatly when these scholars begin to engage in their philosophical investigation. He wages a fierce battle with them who are signified by the serpent—for he is greatly assailed by doubts, untrue assertions and false beliefs. That is because he is a confident traitor though he lacks complete condidence and lacks the proper truth. which is an inherent aspect  of false beliefs