Netanyahu told Trump Israel will remain free to act against threats, Israeli source says

Source: Reuters

May 24, 2026 9:23 AM EDT Updated 11 hours ago


JERUSALEM, May 24 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. President Donald Trump Israel would remain free to act against threats in Lebanon ​during a phone call about an emerging agreement between Washington and Iran ‌on Saturday, an Israeli source said. Trump said Washington and Iran had "largely negotiated" a memorandum of understanding on a peace deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a ​vital shipping passage that has been effectively closed since the U.S. ​and Israel launched their war on Iran in February.

"In last night's ⁠conversation with President Trump, the Prime Minister emphasized that Israel will maintain ​freedom of action against threats in all arenas, including Lebanon, and President Trump ​reiterated and supported this principle," the Israeli political source told Reuters on Sunday, asking not to be named. Expectations rose that a breakthrough might be imminent in the three-month-old war ​after Trump said an emerging agreement being brokered by Pakistan would reopen ​the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Fars news agency said the draft stipulates that the U.S. and ‌its ⁠allies will not attack Iran or its allies, and in return Iran pledges not to launch preemptive attacks on them.

Prominent Israeli politician Benny Gantz said it would be a strategic mistake for Israel to accept a ceasefire in ​Lebanon, which its ​troops have entered ⁠to fight the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia, as part of a deal with Iran. According to the Israeli source, the U.S. ​is updating Israel on the negotiations with Iran.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/netanyahu-told-trump-israel-will-remain-free-act-against-threats-israeli-source-2026-05-24/