Israel Labels Trump’s Iran Deal a Disaster

A Flawed Pact: Israeli Sentiment on the Tehran Agreement

According to Главком: Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth captured the national mood regarding Donald Trump’s deal with Tehran under the headline 'A Bad Deal.' Israel was not involved in the White House talks that produced a memorandum covering the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now scrambling to arrange an urgent meeting with Trump, aiming to hold discussions after the U.S. president returns from the G7 summit in Europe. This agreement marks a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Iran, raising concerns in Jerusalem about regional security.

Clashes and Reactions

Over the past year, Israel has fought two wars against Iran, the most recent of which began in late February with U.S. military involvement. A fresh round of hostilities erupted in Lebanon after attacks by Hezbollah. In response, Israel struck a Hezbollah command center in Beirut. Commenting on the situation, Trump called for restraint and criticized Tel Aviv, stating that 'the attack should not have happened.' During a phone call, he also referred to Netanyahu as 'crazy' over the Lebanon campaign, noting that without his support, the prime minister could have ended up in prison. Trump emphasized that Tel Aviv’s actions are turning the international community against Israel.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu, commenting on the Tehran deal, assured that 'Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons' and noted that he and Trump agree on this point. Among Netanyahu’s objectives are:

• completely eliminating the nuclear and ballistic threat;
• halting Tehran’s funding of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis;
• creating conditions to topple the Iranian regime.

However, former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman called the agreement 'a disaster for Israel,' while opposition leader Yair Lapid branded it 'one of the most shocking failures in security and foreign policy.'

Additionally, former acting National Security Advisor to Netanyahu, Jacob Nagel, opined that 'Trump will declare complete victory regardless.' According to an anonymous source, key problems with the proposal include:

• no clear solutions for enriched uranium;
• a financial boost to Iran’s treasury;
• a forced pause in the military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Current Israeli officials are refraining from comments to avoid straining ties with Trump, as parliamentary elections in the country are due by the end of October.

This situation underscores significant regional tensions and potential consequences for Israel’s security in light of the new deal with Iran. Israel’s absence from the negotiations could heighten its concerns about Iran’s nuclear program and the activities of Iran-backed groups in the region. The political backlash in Israel-particularly criticism of the deal from the opposition and some experts-reveals deep divisions over the country’s foreign policy and security strategy.

In light of the escalating tensions and the recent U.S. decision to restrict Israeli strikes on Iran, Netanyahu's urgent request for a meeting with Trump underscores the critical nature of their alliance. For a deeper understanding of the implications of this diplomatic maneuvering, read more about Netanyahu's urgent meeting request.