Middle East Eye • June 15, 2026 13:07

'Israel is weaker': Israeli political class reacts angrily to the US-Iran peace deal

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Submitted by
Nadav Rapaport
on
Mon, 06/15/2026 - 13:16

Across the political spectrum, Israeli figures denounce an agreement they see as unfavourable to Israel and pledge not to commit

Destruction in Nabatieh, Lebanon, on 15 June 2026, as Israel's defence minister said the army would remain in Lebanon indefinitely, hours after the US-Iran peace deal's announcement (Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP)
Off
Anger and disappointment broke out in Israel on Monday morning after mediator Pakistan announced late on Sunday that the US and Iran had reached a peace agreement.

"We are pleased to announce that the Peace Deal between the United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran has been REACHED," Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on his X account.

Sharif, who assumed the role of the mediator between the US and Iran after the joint Israeli-US war on Iran started in February, added that the agreement included an "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon".

According to Sharif, who thanked Israel's adversaries, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, for their part in the negotiations, the agreement will be signed on Friday in Switzerland.

Shortly after Pakistan's announcement, both the US and Iran confirmed the agreement, with President Donald Trump saying the deal was "complete" and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi saying a final agreement was due to be signed within 60 days.

Although Pakistan and Iran both said the emerging agreement included the cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, Israeli officials rejected this clause and said they were not bound by the agreement, while Israeli forces carried out a series of attacks across southern Lebanon on Monday.

‘Not binding’

Israeli news site Ynet reported on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has yet to publicly comment on last night's development, said to Trump that Israel is not bound by the agreement and would not accept Iranian requirements in Lebanon.

Defence Minister Israel Katz echoed Netanyahu's reported remarks on Monday, saying the Israeli army "will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, without any time limit".

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Katz added that the territories under Israeli occupation would be cleared of civilians and their homes, which he designated as "terror infrastructure", would be destroyed.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich took to X to voice his frustration with the emerging deal, saying "the agreement with Iran is bad for Israel and for the entire free world". The far-right minister added that Israel would have to continue its campaign against Iran alone.

Smotrich, who recently called for the levelling of buildings in Beirut in response to Hezbollah attacks, said he would continue to allow the army “full freedom of action” in Lebanon despite the agreement.

"Trump’s agreement does not bind us," National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir wrote on X. "Israel is not a subordinate of the United States, and we are an independent and sovereign state," he added.

Ben Gvir added that Israel "is not a banana republic", stating that the emerging deal "does not bind us in any way", with the far-right minister claiming the deal will not protect Israel's security.

Other government officials vowed to attack Iran despite the agreement.

Culture Minister Miki Zohar told Ynet that his government is only interested in whether Iran has nuclear weapons or not.

"If Israel sees that its security is in danger, it will strike Iran with force," Zohar said, claiming that Iranians "will not only get down on their knees, but they will bow their heads as well".

‘Treacherous America’

While Israel's ministers avoided criticising Trump and Netanyahu directly, angry reactions were recorded both by opposition and right-wing figures, with journalists close to Netanyahu lashing out at Trump.

Channel 14 News journalist Yinon Magal, who is widely seen in Israel as a mouthpiece of Israel's prime minister, wrote on X that Israel had been left alone in its wars in Iran and Lebanon, calling Trump a "loser" and Vice-President JD Vance "scum".

Magal also referred to the US special envoys to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as "little Jews", using a common antisemitic slur.

Shimon Riklin, another Channel 14 News journalist, said on Monday that "what Israel needs more than anything right now is sovereignty", adding that it was needed to remind the "treacherous America" that Israel has its own interests.

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Israel's Defence and Security Forum (IDSF), a right-wing think tank, said on Monday that "every agreement with the Iranian terrorist regime is ultimately doomed to fail, and the current agreement will be no different".

The IDSF added that "this is the time to stand tall, prepare for what lies ahead, and not compromise on Israel’s interests in removing the threat from Lebanon and Iran".

Others attacked the Israeli prime minister, with Netanyahu's political opponents seizing the occasion to attack his leadership and war policies.

Yair Golan, leader of the centre-left Democrats party, described Netanyahu as "weak, ill, isolated and lacking influence", saying that Trump signed an agreement that transfers billions of frozen assets to Iran while preserving its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

According to Golan, the emerging deal represents "years of failure" of Netanyahu's policies to do a deal with Iran, adding that now "Israel is weaker".

Gadi Eisenkot, a prime ministerial candidate and former army chief, said the agreement failed to address any of Israel's security concerns, adding that nearly three years of wars since the 7 October “debacle” led to "a grim result of a failed government".

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett also attacked Netanyahu's government, saying that it "is incapable of making decisive decisions and has led us into wars of attrition and stagnation".

Bennett promised to replace Netanyahu in the upcoming elections and fix his mistakes, stating that he has a plan to topple the Iranian leadership.

War on Iran

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'Israel is weaker': Israeli political class reacts angrily to the US-Iran peace deal Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Mon, 06/15/2026 - 13:16 Across the political spectrum, Israeli figures denounce an agreement they see as unfavourable to Israel and pledge not to commit Destruction in Nabatieh, Lebanon, on 15 June 2026, as Israel's defence minister said the army would remain in Lebanon indefinitely, hours after the US-Iran peace deal's announcement (Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP) Off Anger and disappointment broke out in Israel on Monday morning after mediator Pakistan announced late on Sunday that the US and Iran had reached a peace agreement. "We are pleased to announce that the Peace Deal between the United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran has been REACHED," Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on his X account. Sharif, who assumed the role of the mediator between the US and Iran after the joint Israeli-US war on Iran started in February, added that the agreement included an "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon". According to Sharif, who thanked Israel's adversaries, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, for their part in the negotiations, the agreement will be signed on Friday in Switzerland. Shortly after Pakistan's announcement, both the US and Iran confirmed the agreement, with President Donald Trump saying the deal was "complete" and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi saying a final agreement was due to be signed within 60 days. Although Pakistan and Iran both said the emerging agreement included the cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, Israeli officials rejected this clause and said they were not bound by the agreement, while Israeli forces carried out a series of attacks across southern Lebanon on Monday. ‘Not binding’ Israeli news site Ynet reported on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has yet to publicly comment on last night's development, said to Trump that Israel is not bound by the agreement and would not accept Iranian requirements in Lebanon. Defence Minister Israel Katz echoed Netanyahu's reported remarks on Monday, saying the Israeli army "will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, without any time limit". Trump declares US-Iran deal complete, announces end of naval blockade Read More » Katz added that the territories under Israeli occupation would be cleared of civilians and their homes, which he designated as "terror infrastructure", would be destroyed. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich took to X to voice his frustration with the emerging deal, saying "the agreement with Iran is bad for Israel and for the entire free world". The far-right minister added that Israel would have to continue its campaign against Iran alone. Smotrich, who recently called for the levelling of buildings in Beirut in response to Hezbollah attacks, said he would continue to allow the army “full freedom of action” in Lebanon despite the agreement. "Trump’s agreement does not bind us," National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir wrote on X. "Israel is not a subordinate of the United States, and we are an independent and sovereign state," he added. Ben Gvir added that Israel "is not a banana republic", stating that the emerging deal "does not bind us in any way", with the far-right minister claiming the deal will not protect Israel's security. Other government officials vowed to attack Iran despite the agreement. Culture Minister Miki Zohar told Ynet that his government is only interested in whether Iran has nuclear weapons or not. "If Israel sees that its security is in danger, it will strike Iran with force," Zohar said, claiming that Iranians "will not only get down on their knees, but they will bow their heads as well". ‘Treacherous America’ While Israel's ministers avoided criticising Trump and Netanyahu directly, angry reactions were recorded both by opposition and right-wing figures, with journalists close to Netanyahu lashing out at Trump. Channel 14 News journalist Yinon Magal, who is widely seen in Israel as a mouthpiece of Israel's prime minister, wrote on X that Israel had been left alone in its wars in Iran and Lebanon, calling Trump a "loser" and Vice-President JD Vance "scum". Magal also referred to the US special envoys to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as "little Jews", using a common antisemitic slur. Shimon Riklin, another Channel 14 News journalist, said on Monday that "what Israel needs more than anything right now is sovereignty", adding that it was needed to remind the "treacherous America" that Israel has its own interests. Iranians greet deal to end war with relief, suspicion and uncertainty Read More » Israel's Defence and Security Forum (IDSF), a right-wing think tank, said on Monday that "every agreement with the Iranian terrorist regime is ultimately doomed to fail, and the current agreement will be no different". The IDSF added that "this is the time to stand tall, prepare for what lies ahead, and not compromise on Israel’s interests in removing the threat from Lebanon and Iran". Others attacked the Israeli prime minister, with Netanyahu's political opponents seizing the occasion to attack his leadership and war policies. Yair Golan, leader of the centre-left Democrats party, described Netanyahu as "weak, ill, isolated and lacking influence", saying that Trump signed an agreement that transfers billions of frozen assets to Iran while preserving its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. According to Golan, the emerging deal represents "years of failure" of Netanyahu's policies to do a deal with Iran, adding that now "Israel is weaker". Gadi Eisenkot, a prime ministerial candidate and former army chief, said the agreement failed to address any of Israel's security concerns, adding that nearly three years of wars since the 7 October “debacle” led to "a grim result of a failed government". Former prime minister Naftali Bennett also attacked Netanyahu's government, saying that it "is incapable of making decisive decisions and has led us into wars of attrition and stagnation". Bennett promised to replace Netanyahu in the upcoming elections and fix his mistakes, stating that he has a plan to topple the Iranian leadership. War on Iran Tel Aviv, Israel News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

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Mon 13:07 - Middle East Eye

'Israel is weaker': Israeli political class reacts angrily to the US-Iran peace deal