Trump's intervention in Netanyahu's plans to bomb Beirut reminds world who's calling shots in Iran

In central Jerusalem, not far from the walls of the old city, there's a cluster of private art galleries.

It's a mixture of traditional and modern offerings on HaMalka Shlomziyon, or Queen Shlomzyion Street. But there's one store that regularly draws interested onlookers.

Displayed in the window is a piece depicting the flag of the United States. But as you take two or three more steps along the shopfront, and the perspective changes, the Stars and Stripes turn into the Star of David.

There's often commentary that the US and Israel, particularly in the era of Trump, are two sides of the same coin — or in this instance, painting or sculpture.

Monday night's intervention by US President Donald Trump as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to launch strikes on Beirut shows how close that relationship is.

It also hints at how much pressure Trump is under to end the war and how much Netanyahu is willing to test the friendship.

US outlet Axios reported that, in a phone call between the leaders overnight, Trump yelled "What the f*** are you doing?" at Netanyahu over Israel's escalation in Lebanon.

The reportedly explosive interaction, and how effective it seemingly was, reminds the world that one side calls the shots, and gives an insight into the lengths Donald Trump will go to get his way.

As we've now learned, it includes speaking to a declared terrorist organisation.

Reported 'f***ing crazy' phone call

Over the weekend, fighting between Israel and Hezbollah had intensified.

Israeli troops pushed deeper into southern Lebanon, expanding their invasion of the country. Deadly strikes on cities and towns continued too.

In turn, Hezbollah fired rockets and explosive drones at soldiers, and Israeli communities hugging the border.

The chain of events from there is telling.

Pressure was building on Benjamin Netanyahu, from the IDF and the Israeli political establishment to go harder in Lebanon.

It is an election year in Israel after all.

Far-right government minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was in northern Israel just days ago, telling media the suburbs of Beirut "need to be flattened" in order to defeat Hezbollah.

"I also say it to our dear prime minister. Dear Prime Minister, Bibi Netanyahu, I love you, I appreciate you, but it's time to flatten Dahiyeh," he said over the weekend.

"We respect Trump, we need to thank him for the partnership, but the red line is harm to soldiers, harm to civilians, and Dahiyeh needs to be flattened."

On Monday morning, local time, Netanyahu declared he had ordered strikes on Beirut, and the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahiyeh in particular.

Residents fled. And then, nothing.

Speculation mounted about why there was a delay. What was the reason for announcing attacks were coming, and then hesitating to pull the trigger?

As Beirut held its breath, Iran announced it was protesting Israel's behaviour by pulling out of negotiations with the US on ending the broader Middle East war.

Trump told American network NBC he had no formal notification from Iran that it was suspending the talks, and maybe he's been speaking too much about the negotiating process.

Then, suddenly, he called Benjamin Netanyahu.

It was reportedly a heated conversation.

According Axios, citing a US official who was briefed on the call, Trump told Netanyahu: "You're f***ing crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this."

Also significant is that he picked up the phone to intermediaries, which got his message straight to Hezbollah itself — however unheard of it is for a president to speak to a terrorist organisation.

Commitments were received from both. The war was not set to explode once more.

Trump later announced, via social media, that "there will be no troops going to Beirut". He also said Hezbollah had "agreed that all shooting will stop".

"Israel will not attack them [Hezbollah], and they will not attack Israel," he wrote.

The pressure valve was seemingly released, and it all played out on social media.

Trump's support for Netanyahu may not be unlimited

In April the US was backing Israel in its insistence that Lebanon was a separate conflict to the war with Iran as Washington and Tehran agreed to pause their fighting.

That's despite the war in Lebanon beginning as a result of Hezbollah opening fire on Israel in support of its Iranian backers as they came under attack by the US and Israel.

But by June the US president was intervening in Lebanon as it threatened the success of the fragile peace with Iran.

It's a policy shift which goes to the heart of the relationship between the two sides that support isn't necessarily unlimited, particularly if it threatens what Trump really wants.

Netanyahu was clearly instrumental in convincing the US president to launch strikes on Iran three months ago.

Within Israel, recent criticism of Israel's longest-serving leader has been that, at best, he's been sidelined by the American leader, and at worst, his actions are being dictated by Trump.

Since the fiery phone call, Ben-Gvir has doubled down.

"You said that a strong prime minister tells the president of the United States — 'yes' when possible, and 'no' — when necessary," he posted on X

"This is the time to tell our friend, President Trump — 'no'."

At the end of the last Iran War in 2025, Israel dispatched war planes to Iran after missile warning systems were triggered hours after a truce was announced.

Trump quickly posted on social media that the Israeli planes needed to turn around. And they did.

There's a similarity to be drawn this time around.

Watch this space to see if the intervention has the desired result.