Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., told Newsmax on Tuesday that President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will resolve their public split over Lebanon, predicting the security of Americans and allies will ultimately drive the U.S.-Iran deal across the finish line.
Britt's appearance on "Ed Henry: The Big Take" came hours after Trump rebuked Israel from the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, saying he was "not happy with the way Israel has handled themselves with Lebanon and with Hezbollah" and warning that the fight was throwing "a negative light" on his pending agreement with Tehran.
Iran told mediators Sunday that Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs could complicate the deal, which the White House aims to formalize Friday in Switzerland.
Asked whether the friction could unravel the framework, Britt steered the answer back to Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
"Look, I know that obviously Israel wants peace there in the region as well," she said.
"I mean, you have to think about what all that country and the men and women of Israel have been through. When you look at October 7th, when you think about the fact that there are people right there in the region, not even far away, just miles down the road, that want to do them harm, that have said death to Israel and that have worked to follow through with that."
She called the 2023 Hamas assault "beyond comprehension" and said Israel had no choice but to keep pressing.
"The unthinkable occurred to men and women there in that region on October 7th," Britt said.
"What we saw was beyond comprehension. They've got to make sure that they're doing what they need to, to keep the men and women there safe."
The Alabama Republican linked the Lebanon fight to a broader climate she described as the worst in modern memory for Jewish communities.
"When you look at antisemitism across the globe, it is at an all-time high," she said. "I think it's important that we stand with our ally there."
Britt expressed confidence the two leaders would close ranks.
"I have every belief that the president and the prime minister will work through that, because they know what is most important is the safety and security of our people here at home, of their people there, of all of our allies in the region," she said.
"And at the end of the day, I believe that will win out."
Trump on Tuesday went further than his Sunday phone complaints, suggesting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa could prosecute the campaign against Hezbollah more effectively than Israel.
Netanyahu, in a televised address Monday night, ruled out an immediate Israeli pullback from southern Lebanon, vowing to hold security zones "for as long as it is required."
The interim U.S.-Iran truce is set to be signed Friday.
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Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.