[Israel Reluctantly Accepts Ceasefire After Last-Minute Notification]
If there is anyone least eager for a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, Israel certainly ranks among them. When Trump suddenly announced via social media on April 7 (EDT) a temporary two-week ceasefire, Israel reacted with deep reluctance. According to a source familiar with the situation, Israeli officials generally feel unusually anxious about the interim ceasefire agreement reached between the U.S. and Iran.
Israel’s role in this conflict is somewhat awkward: while Israel desires to strike Iran far more than Trump does, the authority to decide on a truce lies not in Israel’s hands. Specifically, if Trump declares a ceasefire, Israel will be forced to follow suit. On March 18, Netanyahu himself acknowledged during an interview: “Trump is the leader. If he ever decides to cease hostilities, I will respect that decision.”
As the deadline set by Trump—the so-called “ultimatum”—approached, Israel had already entered a high state of readiness, prepared to launch large-scale attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure. However, Trump ultimately withdrew at the last moment and instead brokered a ceasefire. Israel was then compelled to accept the truce.
Israeli sources stated that although Israel agreed to abide by the ceasefire, it did so with great inner reluctance. This is because many targets inside Iran remain untargeted on Israel’s hit list. One Israeli official told *The Times of Israel*: “Just before the ultimatum deadline arrived, we were completely surprised by Trump’s decision. But we only received notification at the very last minute—everything was already finalized. We had no choice but to accept and comply with the ceasefire.”
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861895065708556/
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