Trump's Iran deal fuels anger in Israel, laying bare strains in Washington-Tel Aviv ties – Firstpost - EUROPE SAYS
President Donald Trump, once among the most admired foreign leaders in Israel, is facing an extraordinary backlash after his interim agreement with Iran ignited accusations that Washington had abandoned its. . .
President Donald Trump, once among the most admired foreign leaders in Israel, is facing an extraordinary backlash after his interim agreement with Iran ignited accusations that Washington had abandoned its closest West Asian ally. The deal has dominated headlines, with politicians, commentators and analysts warning that Israeli security interests have been sidelined for diplomacy with Tehran. The criticism followed anagreementoutlining broad terms to end the joint US-Israeli war on Iran, a deal that sparked public and political outrage across Israel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADIsraeli media accuses Trump of abandoning IsraelOne of the strongest reactions came in an opinion piece titled “You could have been the greatest president of all, but you failed,” which accusedTrumpof signing a “surrender agreement with a murderous and cruel terror regime”. Published in Israel Hayom, one of the country’s leading newspapers owned by influential Trump donor Miriam Adelson, the article described the agreement as turning the clock towards another war and bringing about Israel’s “humiliation”. “The broad smile on former President Barack Obama’s face contained so much mockery toward the man who had described his agreement as the worst ever,” the article said, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump withdrew from during his first term. Hagai Ram, a professor at Ben Gurion University and author of the book Iranophobia: The Logic of an Israeli Obsession, said Trump had until recently been “the most popular figure in Israel” but had now been transformed “into a villain”. He attributed the reaction to “phobia” and an “all-encompassing sense of American betrayal of Israel” following a deal that much of the mainstream media portrayed as “an Iranian trap”. A dispute unlike previous disagreementsThe alliance between the US and Israel has long been regarded as one of the closest in modern history. Since playing a critical role in the establishment of Israel in 1948, Washington has backed the country through multiple conflicts and despite criticism of its treatment of Palestinians, particularly during the decades-long blockade and attacks on Gaza. While the two countries have previously experienced disagreements, observers noted that none appeared to rival the current dispute surrounding the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, even as they emphasised that the broader strategic partnership remains intact. For many Israelis, Iran is viewed as the country’s principal regional adversary and the conflict with Tehran is often portrayed as existential. For decades, Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have argued that Iran is close to acquiring a nuclear weapon and, alongside allies such as Hezbollah, remains committed to Israel’s destruction. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADHowever, the agreement, reportedly negotiated without Israel’s apparent involvement, calls for all fighting, including the offensive launched against Lebanon in early March, to end immediately. It also requires both sides to respect what the MoU describes as the “territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon”, despite Israel occupying around a fifth of the country. Public and political criticism intensifiesThe agreement has been poorly received in Israel. A poll by Israel’s Channel 12 TV on Thursday suggested a shift in public sentiment. According to the survey, only 11 per cent of Israelis believed their country had “won” the war launched by the US and Israel against Iran in late February, while 71 per cent said they no longer trusted the Trump administration to protect Israeli interests in negotiations with Tehran under the MoU. The criticism has also extended into political circles. Although Netanyahu has not publicly commented on the terms of the agreement, Israel’s continued military actions in Lebanon and allegations that Hezbollah violated the arrangement have led observers to conclude that he does not consider himself bound by it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADHard-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have both publicly criticised the interim agreement. “With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not forfeit. All of Lebanon must burn,” Ben-Gvir wrote in a post on X that was later restricted for breaching the platform’s terms of service. US officials reject criticism from IsraelUS officials have pushed back against the criticism emerging from Israel. Speaking at the G7 on Wednesday, Trump said Netanyahu had become “a little excited” in relation to the attacks on Lebanon. Vice President JD Vance was more direct. Responding to reports that Netanyahu was angry over the MoU, Vance said Trump “is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time”, referring to international condemnation of Israel’s war in Gaza and military actions against neighbouring countries. ”“If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world,” he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADPolitical analyst Ori Goldberg said the tensions amounted not merely to a disagreement but to a “rift”. “The criticism of Israel coming from US leaders hasn’t arisen because they’ve suddenly gained any great insight, it’s because the facts have become unavoidable,” he said. He added, “Everything they’re saying is correct. These are truth bombs. Israel did pull them into a war and Netanyahu did manipulate Trump. ”