Extract from ABC News
Analysis
In a social media post Donald Trump said he spoke to Benjamin Netanyahu and representatives from Hezbollah overnight. (Reuters: Jonathan Ernst)
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.
Smoke rises from Beaufort Castle following strikes on May 27. (Reuters: Stringer)
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.
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