Israeli ministers reject deal
Two senior Israeli ministers voiced strong opposition to a proposed ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran, arguing that Israel must retain the freedom to continue military operations against regional threats. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the deal could undermine Israel’s security interests and warned against any arrangement that limits the country’s ability to act against Iran and its allies.
Israel’s Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir criticized the pending agreement, stating that Israel should not be bound by deals that restrict its ability to defend itself.
Speaking ahead of his party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset, he urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to continue operations against Hezbollah and other hostile groups.
Ben Gvir stressed that the safety of Israeli citizens and soldiers must remain the government’s top priority. While expressing appreciation for US support and President Donald Trump’s backing of Israel, he emphasized that responsibility for the country’s security lies solely with the Israeli government.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also condemned the proposed agreement, calling it a “bad deal” for both Israel and the wider international community. He argued that Iran must never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and warned against any outcome that could enable Tehran to move closer to that goal.
According to Smotrich, recent joint US-Israeli actions against Iran produced significant strategic gains and weakened the Iranian regime. Nevertheless, he said Israel would continue using all available means to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear threshold state and to counter what he described as a terrorist regime.
Smotrich further noted that the Israeli government and Prime Minister Netanyahu are facing unprecedented political, security and diplomatic pressure, insisting that the leadership has managed challenges that few political rivals could withstand.
