Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview on Wednesday, did not deny having a difficult conversation with President Donald Trump during a phone call on Monday but downplayed the significance of the matter. In an interview with CNBC, Netanyahu dismissed Trump calling him “f***ing crazy” during a heated telephone conversation earlier in the week as the kind of “tactical disagreements” typical of even “the best of families.”&nbsp;“I’m not going to get into details of our conversations. We’ve had thousands, well, a lot of them,” he said.&nbsp;“Sometimes, as in the best of families, we have these tactical disagreements. We always find a way to work them out. We can disagree in the morning, and we have a common action by the afternoon,” the Israeli leader said.“My relationship with Trump is the same. He respects me, and I respect him. We always find a way to work out our differences,” Netanyahu said.&nbsp;The Israeli PM did not back diplomatic efforts to end the US-Israeli war on Iran but said Trump believed he could “solve the enrichment problem” – referring to Iran’s nuclear programme – “with diplomatic pressure and tough negotiations. I think he should be given a chance.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-s-central-bank-says-inflation-at-world-war-ii-levels-eco-pain-deepening-for-iranians-1780432873791">Iran’s central bank says inflation at World War II levels; eco pain deepening for Iranians</a><h2>‘We have to disarm Hezbollah and demilitarise Lebanon’</h2>&nbsp;Netanyahu, however, did not back down on his country’s plans to ensure that Iranian-backed Hezbollah no longer poses a threat to his country.&nbsp;“If we want to save Lebanon, if we want to get a Lebanese-Israeli peace – as I do – we have to disarm Hezbollah and we have to demilitarise Lebanon. This is a goal Trump and I share,” he said.&nbsp;“You can’t have these genocidal terrorists taking over this poor country of Lebanon, using it to try to invade Israel — the way that Hamas invaded us, murder our civilians, kill our men, rape our women. No country would accept that.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mosque-built-illegally-by-pakistanis-in-japan-inaugurated-by-envoy-faces-demolition-1780425871272">Mosque built illegally by Pakistanis in Japan, inaugurated by envoy, faces demolition</a>&nbsp;Lebanese and Israeli officials were set to meet for another round of direct talks in Washington on Wednesday, aimed at bolstering a US-brokered ceasefire they agreed to weeks ago but which both accused each other of violating daily.<h2>Trump confirms he called Netanyahu ‘f***ing crazy’</h2>&nbsp;Meanwhile, President Trump confirmed that he called Netanyahu “f***ing crazy”, saying he was “perturbed” by Israel’s actions in LebanonIn an interview for a New York Post podcast released Wednesday, President Trump confirmed an earlier Axios report that he had criticised Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu as “f***ing crazy” in a Monday phone call, saying he was “a little bit perturbed” that Israel’s fighting of Hezbollah in Lebanon was holding back peace talks with Iran.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-picks-loyalist-bill-pulte-as-acting-director-of-national-intelligence-to-replace-tulsi-gabbard-1780410910956">Trump picks loyalist Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard</a>&nbsp;“We’ve worked very well together. I like Bibi a lot. And I work very well with him,”. Trump told the Post’s ‘Pod Force One’, using a common nickname for the Israeli leader.“I’m a wartime president,” Trump said. “He’s a wartime prime minister.”

PM  Benjamin Netanyahu did not fully back diplomatic efforts to end the US-Israeli war on Iran but said President Donald Trump believes that he could solve the enrichment problem—referring to Iran’s nuclear programme—“with diplomatic pressure and tough negotiations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview on Wednesday, did not deny having a difficult conversation with President Donald Trump during a phone call on Monday but downplayed the significance of the matter. In an interview with CNBC, Netanyahu dismissed Trump calling him “f***ing crazy” during a heated telephone conversation earlier in the week as the kind of “tactical disagreements” typical of even “the best of families.” “I’m not going to get into details of our conversations. We’ve had thousands, well, a lot of them,” he said. “Sometimes, as in the best of families, we have these tactical disagreements. We always find a way to work them out. We can disagree in the morning, and we have a common action by the afternoon,” the Israeli leader said. “My relationship with Trump is the same. He respects me, and I respect him. We always find a way to work out our differences,” Netanyahu said. The Israeli PM did not back diplomatic efforts to end the US-Israeli war on Iran but said Trump believed he could “solve the enrichment problem” – referring to Iran’s nuclear programme – “with diplomatic pressure and tough negotiations. I think he should be given a chance.” Also Read: Iran’s central bank says inflation at World War II levels; eco pain deepening for Iranians ‘We have to disarm Hezbollah and demilitarise Lebanon’ Netanyahu, however, did not back down on his country’s plans to ensure that Iranian-backed Hezbollah no longer poses a threat to his country. “If we want to save Lebanon, if we want to get a Lebanese-Israeli peace – as I do – we have to disarm Hezbollah and we have to demilitarise Lebanon. This is a goal Trump and I share,” he said. “You can’t have these genocidal terrorists taking over this poor country of Lebanon, using it to try to invade Israel — the way that Hamas invaded us, murder our civilians, kill our men, rape our women. No country would accept that.” Also Read: Mosque built illegally by Pakistanis in Japan, inaugurated by envoy, faces demolition Lebanese and Israeli officials were set to meet for another round of direct talks in Washington on Wednesday, aimed at bolstering a US-brokered ceasefire they agreed to weeks ago but which both accused each other of violating daily. Trump confirms he called Netanyahu ‘f***ing crazy’ Meanwhile, President Trump confirmed that he called Netanyahu “f***ing crazy”, saying he was “perturbed” by Israel’s actions in Lebanon In an interview for a New York Post podcast released Wednesday, President Trump confirmed an earlier Axios report that he had criticised Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu as “f***ing crazy” in a Monday phone call, saying he was “a little bit perturbed” that Israel’s fighting of Hezbollah in Lebanon was holding back peace talks with Iran. Also Read: Trump picks loyalist Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard “We’ve worked very well together. I like Bibi a lot. And I work very well with him,”. Trump told the Post’s ‘Pod Force One’, using a common nickname for the Israeli leader. “I’m a wartime president,” Trump said. “He’s a wartime prime minister.”

PM &nbsp;Benjamin Netanyahu did not fully back diplomatic efforts to end the US-Israeli war on Iran but said President Donald Trump believes that he could solve the enrichment problem—referring to Iran’s nuclear programme—“with diplomatic pressure and tough negotiations.

Trump ‘respects’ me, and I ‘respect’ him, says Netanyahu after ‘f***ing crazy’ phone call rebuke

The United States on Saturday (Oct 19) called for Israel to scale back its strikes on Beirut, Lebanon, citing the rising civilian death toll as "far too high".&nbsp;

Just hours after Israel carried out heavy strikes on Hezbollah positions in the southern suburbs of the capital, sending plumes of smoke billowing over the city, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said: "We'd like to see Israel scale back on some of the strikes it's taking, especially in and around Beirut".

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:135,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1972}">'We'd like to see things transition': US</h2>

Speaking at a G7 defence meeting in Naples, Italy, Austin urged a shift towards negotiations to enable civilians on both sides of the Lebanon-Israel border to return home safely.

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:229,&quot;w&quot;:707,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2066}" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-us-forces-directly-involved-pentagon-clarifies-role-in-hamas-leader-yahya-sinwars-death-769092">'No US&nbsp;forces directly involved': Pentagon clarifies role in Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s death</a>

"We'd like to see things transition to some sort of negotiation that will allow civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes," he said.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:332,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2169}">Attacks on UNIFIL</h2>

On Friday, the UN mission, known as UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon), said that in recent days, it had come under several "deliberate" attacks by Israeli forces.

Austin said that he has asked his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant about Israeli attacks on the UN peacekeeping mission's positions in Lebanon.

"He (Gallant) assured me there's no intent of him or his forces to target UNIFIL forces. Again, I continue to emphasise how important it is that those forces don't come under attack," said Austin.

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:526,&quot;w&quot;:692,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2363}" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g7-meeting-defence-ministers-vows-unwavering-support-for-ukraine-shares-concern-over-lebanon-conflict-769057">G7 meeting: Defence ministers vows 'unwavering support' for Ukraine; share concern over Lebanon conflict</a>

This comes as America, Israel's strongest ally, has been urging Tehran to do more to safeguard civilians in Lebanon and Gaza. Last week, the US in a confidential letter from Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked Israeli officials to take concrete measures to address the worsening situation in Gaza within 30 days. The US reportedly warned Tehran that without concrete steps to address the situation, the warring nation could face potential restrictions on American military aid.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States on Saturday (Oct 19) called for Israel to scale back its strikes on Beirut, Lebanon, citing the rising civilian death toll as "far too high". Just hours after Israel carried out heavy strikes on Hezbollah positions in the southern suburbs of the capital, sending plumes of smoke billowing over the city, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said: "We'd like to see Israel scale back on some of the strikes it's taking, especially in and around Beirut".

The United States on Saturday (Oct 19) called for Israel to scale back its strikes on Beirut, Lebanon, citing the rising civilian death toll as "far too high". Just hours after Israel carried out heavy strikes on Hezbollah positions in the southern suburbs of the capital, sending plumes of smoke billowing over the city, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said: "We'd like to see Israel scale back on some of the strikes it's taking, especially in and around Beirut". 'We'd like to see things transition': US Speaking at a G7 defence meeting in Naples, Italy, Austin urged a shift towards negotiations to enable civilians on both sides of the Lebanon-Israel border to return home safely. Also read | 'No US forces directly involved': Pentagon clarifies role in Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s death "We'd like to see things transition to some sort of negotiation that will allow civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes," he said. Attacks on UNIFIL On Friday, the UN mission, known as UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon), said that in recent days, it had come under several "deliberate" attacks by Israeli forces. Austin said that he has asked his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant about Israeli attacks on the UN peacekeeping mission's positions in Lebanon. "He (Gallant) assured me there's no intent of him or his forces to target UNIFIL forces. Again, I continue to emphasise how important it is that those forces don't come under attack," said Austin. Also read | G7 meeting: Defence ministers vows 'unwavering support' for Ukraine; share concern over Lebanon conflict This comes as America, Israel's strongest ally, has been urging Tehran to do more to safeguard civilians in Lebanon and Gaza. Last week, the US in a confidential letter from Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked Israeli officials to take concrete measures to address the worsening situation in Gaza within 30 days. The US reportedly warned Tehran that without concrete steps to address the situation, the warring nation could face potential restrictions on American military aid. (With inputs from agencies)

West Asia crisis: US pressures Israel to scale back attacks on Beirut, citing 'far too high' civilian toll

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Trump ‘respects’ me, and I ‘respect’ him, says Netanyahu after ‘f***ing crazy’ phone call rebuke

West Asia crisis: US pressures Israel to scale back attacks on Beirut, citing 'far too high' civilian toll