US-Iran Agreement Sparks Backlash in Israel as Leaders Reject Security Guarantees

A new agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the Middle East conflict has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli ministers and opposition figures, who argue that the deal does not adequately protect Israel’s security.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was among the first Israeli officials to react, insisting that Israel is not obligated to follow the terms of the agreement.

“Trump’s agreement does not bind us… we are not party to this agreement. It does not safeguard our security,” Ben Gvir stated.

He maintained that Israel should continue pursuing the complete dismantling of Hezbollah and retain areas seized during military operations.

“We must not settle for anything less than the dismantling of Hezbollah. We must not withdraw from a single inch of territory that our soldiers have captured and cleared of terrorist infrastructure.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed those concerns, describing the deal as “bad for Israel” despite recognising the successes of the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

According to Smotrich, Israel must continue working independently to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

“We will have to continue the campaign to bring down the regime ourselves, using creative means, and ensure that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons.”

He also advocated continued military pressure on Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying Israel’s security in the north remained a priority.

Opposition leaders joined the criticism, with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warning that the agreement represented a troubling development for Israel.

“In the past 1,000 days, we have discovered time and again the greatness of our nation and the weakness of the government,” Bennett said.

Bennett argued that Israel should pursue a comprehensive strategy to weaken the Iranian regime through a combination of diplomatic, economic, intelligence and military tools.

Yair Golan, who heads the Democrats Party, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to influence the outcome of the negotiations.

“With the stroke of a pen, enormous military achievements — achieved through the courage of our pilots and the sacrifice of our soldiers — have been erased, while Netanyahu stood on the sidelines: weak, ill, isolated, and without influence,” Golan said.

He also claimed the agreement leaves Iran’s nuclear and ballistic capabilities largely intact while providing economic relief to Tehran.

The criticism highlights growing divisions within Israel over the agreement and its potential implications for the country’s security and regional strategy.

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