Israeli Political Spectrum Reacts to US-Iran Agreement

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israelis from across the political spectrum expressed outrage on Monday over news of a provisional agreement between the United States and Iran, decrying it as disastrous for Israel. The fury was directed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu had not issued a statement until late Monday night. However, government officials, rivals, politicians, and commentators were quick to criticize the agreement, serving as an informal referendum on the prime minister’s continuing leadership ahead of upcoming elections in the fall.

The situation highlights Netanyahu’s growing isolation — domestically, regionally, and increasingly in relation to the United States.

Critics argue that Netanyahu influenced President Donald Trump towards conflict with Iran, promising more than could be achieved. Now, Trump is extricating Israel from the conflict before it is ready. They claim Netanyahu misjudged Trump’s appetite for prolonged conflict, was outmaneuvered by Iran in negotiations, and has become increasingly marginalized by key regional players.

“Israel is paying the price for Netanyahu’s arrogance and blindness, and the price for the manipulations he attempted with Trump,” said former Prime Minister Ehud Barak in an interview with Israel’s public broadcaster on Monday. “Iran emerged strengthened; Israel weakened. That is Netanyahu’s strategic responsibility. He failed.”

Yair Lapid, who will challenge Netanyahu in the fall elections, commented that the agreement represents “one of the most shocking failures in Israel’s foreign and security policy… wholly attributable to Netanyahu.” He asserted, “It can be fixed; it must be fixed. Netanyahu can no longer fix it; we will.”

Impact on Israeli Operations in Lebanon

With the U.S.-Iran agreement, Israel finds itself in a tough spot, partly due to its invasion of southern Lebanon after the Lebanese group Hezbollah launched missiles at northern Israeli towns during the first week of the war.

Since negotiations began, Iran has insisted that any deal with the United States include a halt to Israeli hostilities in Lebanon. As negotiations advanced, and Trump sought an exit from the war, he grew angry over Israel’s attacks in Beirut, warning they might jeopardize an agreement. Ultimately, the U.S. President decided to end the conflict with Iran, limiting Israel’s options in Lebanon. This decision has left Netanyahu in a challenging position.

His ties with Trump could necessitate scaling back a military campaign in Lebanon, which has substantial support in Israel. On Monday, Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed to keep troops in Lebanon.

“All Hezbollah needs to do is get a rocket to cross into an Israeli town in northern Israel, and the pressure on Netanyahu — already coming from his base and opposition — will intensify,” stated Daniel Shapiro, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel and a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council. “It will be very difficult to resist,” Shapiro noted. “This gives Hezbollah and, essentially, Iran significant power to control this dynamic.”

Some of Netanyahu’s more hawkish coalition members have criticized the agreement, urging the prime minister to continue the campaign in Lebanon, despite potential friction with the United States and risking the agreement’s derailment.

“We must not settle for anything less than dismantling Hezbollah,” wrote National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on X.

Unmet War Goals in Lebanon

The agreement has left the future of Israel’s campaign in Lebanon uncertain, and in Iran, it ties Netanyahu’s hands before achieving his goals.

Netanyahu and the United States started the war on February 28, aiming to destroy Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Nearly four months later, after enduring a devastating aerial campaign, Tehran stands in a significantly stronger position, according to analysts and critics. Its indirect allies remain intact and can still launch missiles at Israel. Tehran continues to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global maritime route, disrupting global trade and raising the prices of essential goods worldwide.

Additionally, the extent of damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and ballistic missile program remains uncertain.

“Israel believes the war delayed Iran’s nuclear program, but did not change its objectives,” wrote political commentator Anna Barsky for Ma’ariv, a major Hebrew-language newspaper.

She added that Israeli officials also worry that Iran might receive substantial financial influx under its agreement with the United States. According to three regional officials who spoke under anonymity due to the negotiation’s sensitivity, the deal involves gradual sanctions relief and releasing frozen Iranian assets.

“Trump signs an agreement channeling billions of dollars to the Ayatollah regime, leaving the nuclear infrastructure intact, maintaining the ballistic threat unchanged, and offering a lifeline to Tehran’s murderous regime,” wrote Yair Golan, leader of a center-left party and former Israeli general, on X.

This story was translated from English by an AP editor with assistance from a generative AI tool.