Multiple U.S. and Israeli officials said Netanyahu ordered the military to suspend a new attack on Iran shortly after a Monday phone call with Trump.
That reversal triggered criticism from rivals and unease among some allies, who cast it as proof that Israel’s response to Iran and its proxies is being constrained.
Gadi Eisenkot seized on the episode with a campaign ad using Trump’s voice saying Netanyahu would do “whatever I want,” while a recent poll put Eisenkot ahead as Israelis’ top choice for prime minister.
Naftali Bennett said the pause risked normalizing “drip-by-drip” Iranian attacks, and Likud lawmaker Dan Illouz argued Israel was giving up deterrence against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The backlash lands as Israel heads toward elections later this year, turning Trump’s pressure on Iran policy into a test of Netanyahu’s leadership at home.