Netanyahu claims victory over Iran – but polling shows many Israelis don't trust him

34 minutes ago Share Save Wyre Davies BBC News Reporting from Jerusalem Share Save

Reuters Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits a site in Israel hit by Iranian missiles

Back in March, as he turned his back on a ceasefire process that was delivering results, the Israeli prime minister took a decision described by some commentators as akin to "political suicide". The Gaza ceasefire deal, brokered by Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff even before the US president was inaugurated to his second term, had led to the release of dozens of hostages from Hamas captivity, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. The next stage was due to see more hostages return home and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, before a negotiated end to the war. Tired of conflict, Israelis and Palestinians contemplated the end of the most destructive war in a common history too frequently punctuated by fighting. But Benjamin Netanyahu didn't want the war to end. As he ordered the resumption of attacks across Gaza, the prime minister declared that fighting would continue until Hamas had been "completely destroyed".

The safe return of the remaining hostages in Gaza seemed to be a secondary consideration. (The civilian consequences in Gaza itself didn't merit a mention.) Many Israelis, especially the hostage families, were outraged. They accused Netanyahu of putting his own political survival ahead of their relatives' safety and the greater good of the nation. "Bibi's" popularity in the polls plummeted and he struggled to keep together a disjointed government, propped up by hardline ministers from the far right and orthodox religious parties. Three months on, Netanyahu is basking in the glory of a spectacular military victory over his nemesis, Iran. He is now said to be contemplating early elections and yet another term as prime minister. At a press conference earlier this week, the 75-year-old, who is already Israel's longest-serving leader, said he still had "many missions" to complete and would seek to do so for as long as "the people" of Israel want him to. Later in the week, and presenting the presumed destruction of Iran's nuclear programme as a "window of opportunity" that "must not be missed", Netanyahu suggested only he could secure the "freeing of hostages and defeat of Hamas" after which he would strike wider regional agreements. But calling early elections would be a big risk and, according to the latest polls, Netanyahu hasn't enjoyed as big a "bounce" from the 12-day conflict with Iran as he might have hoped for.

'Trust'

In a fractured political system where coalition building is key in the 120-seat Knesset, Netanyahu's Likud Party would fall well short of a majority by itself and could struggle to pull together support from smaller parties on the right, suggests latest polling in the Ma'ariv newspaper. The same polling suggested a significant majority, 59% of Israelis, want the fighting in Gaza to stop now, in exchange for the hostages. Almost half of those asked, some 49%, also thought the only reason Netanyahu is continuing the war is for his own political considerations. "The guy is a very skilful political actor," says Professor Tamar Hermann, a senior Research Fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute. "There is no more skilled politician in Israel." But, he says, "trust" is a big problem for Netanyahu. A political leader who has changed his spots so many times to cling to the reins of power is simply no longer believed by a majority of Israelis. According to new polling, soon to be released by Prof Hermann's Israel Democracy Institute, Netanyahu "doesn't cross the 50% line in terms of Israelis expressing full or even partial trust in him". In some ways, says Prof Hermann, deciding to call early elections "is an even greater risk [for Netanyahu] than attacking Iran because in the Middle East you really don't know where you will be in six months". That's because, despite his military gamble in Iran seemingly paying off, there's an elephant in the corner of Benjamin Netanyahu's living room. Indeed, you could say a small herd of elephants is threatening to disrupt the prime minister's hopes of yet another term in office.

Corruption charges

Reuters US President Donald Trump has defended his Israeli counterpart

Trump on a high after 'tremendous' wins at home and abroad

12 minutes ago Share Save Bernd Debusmann Jr BBC News, at the White House Share Save

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Donald Trump's week began with an on-air expletive as he lost his cool over his mounting frustrations with Iran and Israel's shaky ceasefire. It ended with a beaming US president holding court at the White House - not once, but twice - as he celebrated a series of significant political victories at home and abroad. Trump was in a triumphant mood, answering questions for more than an hour at a news conference that turned into a meandering boast of his accomplishments. Here's a look at four big wins from this week, as well as a reminder of some things that didn't go entirely the president's way.

1. An 'unbelievable' strike and a ceasefire

The successful US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities on 21 June was followed just three days later by Trump's announcement of a "complete and total" ceasefire in what he termed the "12-day war" between Israel and Iran. It had a rocky start. Not long before the announcement, Iran fired off ballistic missiles at a US airbase in Qatar, sparking fears of a wider war across the Persian Gulf. Even after the ceasefire, things seemed tenuous. Both sides were quickly accused of breaking it, prompting an angry, expletive-laden tirade to reporters on the White House lawn. By his own admission, Trump only narrowly managed to convince Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call off further attacks on Iran. But ultimately the ceasefire held, allowing the president to proudly claim that his military gamble of an "unbelievable" strike on Iran worked, and point to evidence that he is a "peacemaker" - a sorely needed win as peace continues to elude him in both Gaza and Ukraine. Hegseth talks up strikes in Iran in push for public approval

2. Nato's commitment to 'Daddy'

Trump was on his way to the Netherlands for the Nato summit when he got a text from Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, lavishing praise on him for the strikes on Iran - texts the president was more than happy to make public. During his whirlwind visit to the summit, US allies committed to 5% defence spending, something the president had repeatedly and vocally called for. Then during a joint press conference, Rutte referred to Trump as "Daddy", a reference to the president being able to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Trump has seemed to embrace the moniker. "I think he likes me. If he doesn't...I'll come back and hit him hard," Trump said at a news conference, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio laughing beside him. "He did it very affectionately." Soon after, the White House posted various videos of a victorious-looking Trump with the caption "daddy's home". Trump takes victory lap at Nato - but questions remain

3. A 'giant win' at the Supreme Court

Trump's week ended on a high note with the news that the Supreme Court issued a ruling that will curb judges' power to block his orders nationwide. While the ruling stems from a case regarding Trump's ability to end birthright citizenship for children of some immigrants, it has sweeping implications. It will be harder for lower courts to challenge Trump's domestic agenda through what Attorney General Pam Bondi described as an "endless barrage" of injunctions. At an impromptu news conference, the president hailed the ruling as a "monumental victory for the constitution, the separation of powers, and the rule of law". The decision allows him to pursue a number of other policy items that had been thwarted by injunctions, including freezing funds to so-called "sanctuary cities" that stand in the way of his mass deportation drive, suspending refugee resettlement, and preventing tax money being used to fund gender surgeries. The president smiled and cracked jokes, inviting reporters to ask more and more questions, as his aides - including Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt - sat smiling beside him. "This was a tremendous win, and we've had tremendous wins," he said at the end. "But this was a tremendous win today." Court ruling expands Trump's power - he intends to use it

4. A peace deal in Africa

On Friday afternoon, Trump met with the foreign ministers of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who earlier in the day signed a peace deal aimed at ending decades of fighting between the two neighbours. Further details are scant and previous peace deals in the region have failed - yet that has not deterred the US and Congolese presidents from framing this as a generational victory. "Today, the violence and destruction comes to an end, and the entire region begins a new chapter of hope and opportunity," Trump said. The deal also helps the US government and American companies gain access to critical minerals in the region. "I was able to get them together and sell it," Trump said. "And not only that, we're getting for the United States a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo." At his earlier news conference Trump had admitted he knew few details about the conflict, which is far from the minds of most Americans. "I'm a little bit out of my league... because I don't know too much about it," he said. "I know one thing. They were going at it for many years, and with machetes." Find out more about the peace deal signed in Washington

Reporter Hariana Veras says Congolese president 'very thankful' to Trump

Some potential worries for the White House

The week hasn't been all victories and roses for Trump. The president's biggest legislative priority - a massive tax bill he's dubbed the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill" - has hit some roadblocks. Trump has repeatedly urged lawmakers to get it on to his desk to sign into law by 4 July, Independence Day in the US. But earlier this week, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough said that certain provisions violated Senate rules, throwing billions of dollars of cuts into doubt. "This is part of the process. This part is part of the workings of the United States Senate," Karoline Leavitt said earlier this week. "But the president is adamant about seeing this bill on his desk here at the White House by Independence Day."

And while Trump has hailed the ceasefires in Iran - as well as those in central Africa and last month between Pakistan and India - as victories, he has so far faltered on two of his biggest promises for peace: in Gaza and Ukraine. "We're working on that one," Trump said of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine at Friday's news conference, where he did not mention Gaza. Even the end of US military involvement in Iran is not guaranteed. During the news conference, Trump was asked by the BBC if he would consider bombing Iran again if he believed they were re-starting their nuclear programme. "Sure, without question, absolutely," he responded.

In pictures: Saturday at Glastonbury Festival

Day four of Glastonbury Festival is in full swing - Kaiser Chiefs have opened the Pyramid Stage, with Raye and headliner Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts still to come.

Over on the other stages, Charli XCX and Doechii are amongst the acts expected to draw big crowds.

Kneecap's set on The Other Stage will not be screened live this afternoon, but will be made available on demand later, the BBC has confirmed.

Elsewhere, people are wondering who are Patchwork? The band are scheduled for 18:15 BST on the Pyramid Stage but it is a fake name hiding a mystery guest.

Hungary Pride goes ahead, defying Orban threat of 'legal consequences'

13 minutes ago Share Save Nick Thorpe BBC Budapest Correspondent Stuart Lau BBC News Share Save

Reuters

Tens of thousands have gathered for the Budapest Pride march, defying Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's legal threats against LGBTQ rights activists. Organisers of the march hope for a record attendance, despite mounting pressure from nationalist conservative politicians and police to stop any display of pro-LGBTQ material. The police issued a ban in line with a new "child protection" law restricting gatherings considered to be promoting homosexuality. One woman said she was attending because she wants a country of "diversity" for her children. Orban downplayed the possibility of violent clashes between police and participants, but warned of potential legal repercussions for attendees.

Reuters Tens of thousands defy Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban to attend Saturday's Pride march

"Of course, the police could break up such events, because they have the authority to do so, but Hungary is a civilised country, a civic society. We don't hurt each other," he told state radio on Friday. "There will be legal consequences, but it cannot reach the level of physical abuse." Attendees risk a fine of up to €500 (£427; $586), with police empowered to use facial recognition technology to identify them. Organisers could face a one-year prison sentence. Luca, 34, who is planning to attend with her mother Enikö, said they want a country of "diversity" which she said they don't currently have. "We have a law that bans people who are different from others to gather. This is why we are here. Because it's hurting our rights. That's why we came." She told the BBC she is worried about her four-year-old daughter's future living "in a country where she can't love anyone she wants to". Barnabás said he was attending to "express my solidarity with the LGBTQ community... because I know what it feels like not being seen and to be treated like an outcast, which obviously everyone here is not". Not part of the community himself, the 22-year-old said he comes from the countryside, where people "are more likely to be xenophobic and homophobic". EU equalities commissioner Hadja Lahbib, a former Belgian foreign minister, is in Budapest and expected to join the march. On Friday, she posted a picture showing her standing with the liberal Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony in front of a rainbow flag symbolising gay rights. The Pride march "will be a powerful symbol of the strength of the civil society", she wrote on X.

Reuters A pro-LGBT placard depicting Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban

Dozens of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) were also expected to be in attendance. Finnish MEP Li Andersson said it was important for her and her European colleagues to be there to show solidarity with both Hungary's LGBTQI community and civil society. "It's important to emphasise that the reason why we are here is not only Pride - this is about the fundamental rights of all of us." She added that she thinks Orban is using arguments on family values as a pretext to ban the march. "[It's] a march that is fundamentally about equality and about equal rights for anyone - for everybody, about the right to love and live with whoever you choose. "And I think that's a core value that any free and democratic society should respect."

Reuters People gathered to march from across the country - and Europe - in solidarity with Hungary's Pride