An anti-war protest in Israel, April 4, 2026. FLORION GOGA/REUTERS
The ceasefire in Lebanon, announced on Thursday, April 16, by US President Donald Trump, did not come as good news for Israel. Such is the nature of political life in Israel, where on Friday, leading opponents of the prime minister criticized the truce imposed by the United States between Israel and Hezbollah after forty-six days of war. They condemned Benjamin Netanyahu's failure, forced to halt a conflict that still has broad public support, even though approval has waned somewhat under the heavy burdens of war.
In the midst of the election campaign ahead of the general elections scheduled for October, leaders of opposition parties sought to weaken the prime minister while at the same time expressing their unwavering support for the military, which remains the backbone of a country continuously at war since October 7, 2023.
The order given by Trump on his social network, Truth Social, on Friday, dealt a harsh blow to Netanyahu, who has made his close relationship with the US president a campaign argument: "Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the USA. Enough is enough!!!" wrote the US president in a tone reminiscent of the moment at the end of June 2025, when he ordered the Israeli government to call back its bombers to implement the ceasefire declared after the "Twelve-Day War" against Iran. In a video message, the Israeli prime minister insisted that the war had pushed back "threats coming from Lebanon," but added: "We have not yet finished the job."
