Netanyahu vows to reject US demand for troop withdrawals

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet on Sunday that he will defy US President Donald Trump's demand to withdraw Israeli forces from southern Syria, southern Lebanon, and Gaza, setting the stage for a tense White House meeting on Tuesday.

"I Will Tell Them No"

Netanyahu informed ministers that Washington wants the Israel Defense Forces to carry out "a series of withdrawals" on three fronts, according to Israel's Channel 13, which cited unnamed security sources familiar with the matter. The prime minister reportedly told his cabinet he "intends to stand on my own two feet and resist," adding bluntly: "I will tell them no".timesofisrael

The confrontation has been building for weeks. In mid-July, Trump told Netanyahu in a phone call to begin pulling Israeli forces out of southern Syria and Lebanon, warning that Israel's presence on Syrian territory is "fueling tensions," according to Axios. "They don't want you there. You should redeploy," Trump reportedly said.youtube+1

Netanyahu departed for Washington on Monday for what his office described as an official visit at Trump's invitation. Beyond the White House meeting, he is also expected to attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham.axios+1

Israeli Operations Continue in Southern Syria

Even as the diplomatic dispute intensified, Israeli forces launched fresh incursions into southern Syria early Monday. According to Syria's state news agency SANA, troops entered the village of Taranjah in northern Quneitra countryside before dawn, raiding and searching civilian homes before arresting a local resident. Anadolu Agency confirmed the raid, reporting that Israeli forces also operated in the western Daraa countryside.sana+2

The operations follow a pattern of escalating Israeli military activity in the region since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. Amnesty International has called for war crimes investigations into Israel's destruction of civilian homes in Quneitra, saying the demolitions were carried out "without absolute necessity" in violation of international humanitarian law.amnesty

A White House Showdown

The Tuesday meeting at the White House comes at a moment of growing friction between the two allies. Politico reported that Netanyahu is visiting "a White House increasingly at odds" with his government. Israel's continued military presence in areas beyond the occupied Golan Heights violates the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, according to both SANA and international observers.politico+2

Whether Trump will escalate beyond verbal pressure remains unclear. Netanyahu's public declaration of defiance — delivered to his own cabinet before boarding a plane to Washington — suggests he is prepared for a direct confrontation with the American president who has until now been widely seen as Israel's closest ally in the White House.