Israeli envoy to US reportedly yelled while pushing Netanyahu to back Lebanon deal

Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter pressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to back the US-mediated agreement with Lebanon that was finalized in Washington yesterday, at one point even yelling during the conference call, Channel 12 news reports.

“This is an important achievement. We need to sign it,” Leiter is quoted as telling Netanyahu, who the report says was ultimately convinced to support the deal.

The report cites a source close to Leiter, insisting he yelled because other people around him were making noise and it was hard to hear on the line.

Meanwhile, Leiter says in a statement that in one of the update calls to Israel, “a professional, substantive, and even sharp discussion took place, in which a range of views were expressed regarding the best way to maximize the achievements of the negotiations, while fully safeguarding Israel’s vital interests. Exchanges of views in such discussions are a natural part of the decision-making process.”

Confirming The Times of Israel’s own reporting, Axios says both sides came to the week’s talks in a sour mood, incensed by the US allowing Iran a role in Lebanon in the memorandum of understanding signed last week between Washington and Tehran. A senior American official says the first day of the talks on Tuesday “was pretty ugly.”

By Wednesday the atmosphere had improved and negotiations made progress, with the Americans believing the sides were close to signing, but both the Israeli and Lebanese governments hit the brakes on Thursday, retreating from previous understandings regarding the scope of the Israeli troop withdrawal in southern Lebanon.

The talks were then extended into Friday, and Channel 12 said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio put pressure on both sides to soften their positions, telling them it was “important” for President Trump that they reach a deal.

Eventually, after the reported tense call with Leiter, Netanyahu approved the deal.

Separately, the network quotes an Israeli source saying that Lebanon’s government and army will need to prove themselves in the areas where the IDF is withdrawing from before pulling back from any additional areas, saying that “if they don’t succeed… we won’t continue” with further withdrawals.