Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who persuaded President Donald Trump to strike Iran, has been completely sidelined in the truce negotiations. Netanyahu reportedly learned of the imminent ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran through a post Trump made on Truth Social. While Israel's Prime Minister's Office distanced itself, saying "we are not a party to the negotiations," it stressed that Trump had promised Iran would halt its support for terrorist proxy forces.
With the alliance between the United States and Israel cracking amid the Iran war, attention is also focused on how relations between the two countries will change following the Iran truce negotiations.
Agreement Imminent? Netanyahu Startled During Meeting
Trump announced on Truth Social on Wednesday: "Based on the fact that discussions with Iran have gone up to Iran's supreme leadership and received approval, I, as President of the United States, have today canceled the airstrikes and bombing against Iran that were scheduled for this evening."
But Netanyahu appears to have been entirely unaware of this. Foreign media including Axios reported that Netanyahu was taken by surprise immediately after Trump posted on Truth Social that the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on a ceasefire with Iran was imminent. CNN, citing Israeli sources, reported that Netanyahu was presiding over a meeting on Iran security matters that day when he heard news of Trump's announcement and reacted with surprise. According to Israeli sources, Netanyahu had no knowledge of the imminent agreement between the United States and Iran or of Trump's approval of the negotiations. Axios also reported that Netanyahu had not been notified of the negotiations in advance.
Announcement First, Notification Later... Netanyahu Says "Not Our Negotiation"
After the Truth Social announcement, Trump held a proclamation signing ceremony at the White House and said, "We have just made a great settlement regarding the war with Iran," adding that "only the final coordination of the documents remains." He added, "It will be wrapped up within the next few days, and the signing ceremony will probably be held in Europe."
He also said that the United States and Israel, as parties to the war, along with mediator Pakistan and major Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar, had all approved the matters discussed. In other words, it appears that Trump notified Netanyahu only after announcing the imminent ceasefire negotiations on Truth Social.
Local media including the Times of Israel, citing the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, reported that Netanyahu and Trump held a phone call regarding the negotiations with Iran. The Prime Minister's Office said that while "Israel is not a party to the MOU," "the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for President Trump's promise that the final agreement, upon conclusion of negotiations, would include the removal of nuclear enrichment material, the dismantling of enrichment infrastructure, restrictions on missile production, and a halt to Iran's support for terrorist proxy forces in the region." However, this remains uncertain until the final MOU is produced. Local media pointed out that over the past several weeks Trump dealt only with the nuclear issue and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as agenda items, while in effect taking ballistic missiles and terrorism support off the negotiating table.
"U.S. Not Even Sharing Intelligence"... Netanyahu Cornered
The Iran war has split the once blood-bond alliance between the United States and Israel. The New York Times (NYT) pointed out that "Netanyahu was once the 'co-pilot' in Trump's Iran operation, but is now merely a passenger," describing it as "Israel being pushed from the cockpit to economy class." Foreign media conveyed the changed atmosphere, reporting that the United States recently does not even share simple progress updates with Israel.
Recently, a report even emerged saying that Israel's counterintelligence activities against the United States are serious. The report, prepared by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and military intelligence agencies, stated that the level of Israel's counterintelligence threat had been elevated over recent weeks from "high" to "serious," the highest level. Israel showed "every man for himself" behavior, carrying out its largest airstrike on Lebanon despite Trump's request that it refrain from attacking Lebanon during the Iran agreement.
Within Israel, when the United States and Israel began their attack on Iran in late February, many viewed it as the "peak of Netanyahu's political and diplomatic career," but his approval ratings have recently been falling. The direction of the Iran war is expected to have a significant impact on Israel's general election, which appears likely to be held before October. The Israeli daily Israel Hayom pointed out that "Iran still appearing to be intact is not particularly good news for the Israeli people."
