Netanyahu Bypasses Cabinet in Surprise Ceasefire Announcement; Ministers Fume at Trump's 'Ultimatum'
JERUSALEM – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly left his own government in a state of shock after agreeing to the 10-day Lebanon ceasefire at the direct request of U.S. President Donald Trump.
A Decision Without a Vote
Reports from within the Israeli government describe a chaotic scene on Thursday. Netanyahu reportedly convened an urgent security cabinet meeting via phone with just five minutes' notice, only to inform his ministers that the deal was already finalized.
Ministers Sidelined: Several high-ranking officials expressed "fury" after learning about the truce from media reports.
The security cabinet, which had ended a meeting on the matter Wednesday night without a decision, was never given the opportunity to formally vote on the 10-day pause. Trump’s Influence: Leaked reports suggest Netanyahu told his cabinet that the ceasefire was a personal request from President Trump that "could not be refused."
This has fueled accusations from political rivals that the Prime Minister is bowing to Washington's interests at the expense of Israel's military strategy.
Internal Scepticism vs. Official Rhetoric
While Netanyahu publicly framed the truce as a "historic opportunity" to eventually reach a final peace deal and disarm Hezbollah, his former colleagues and opposition leaders were far less optimistic:
"A Betrayal of the North": Opposition figure Avigdor Lieberman labeled the ceasefire a "betrayal" of northern Israeli residents who have been under constant rocket fire.
Gadi Eisenkot’s Critique: Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot argued that the government has failed to convert military achievements into diplomatic gains, noting a pattern of "imposed ceasefires" from Gaza to Iran, and now Lebanon.
The Terms on the Ground
Despite the lack of cabinet consensus, the IDF is operating under the following parameters for the next 10 days:
The 10km Buffer: Israeli troops will remain in their positions within a 6.2-mile "security zone" in southern Lebanon.
Rules of Engagement: Netanyahu insisted that the principle of "quiet for quiet" was rejected and that Israel retains the "total right" to strike any imminent threat or violation by Hezbollah during the truce.
The fallout from this "surprise" diplomacy is expected to continue long after the 10-day window, as Netanyahu faces growing pressure to explain why his security cabinet was kept in the dark about a major shift in the regional war.
