Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained silent after U.S. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran aimed at reducing regional tensions and ending conflicts across multiple fronts, including Lebanon. The agreement has triggered widespread criticism within Israel's political and security establishment.

Recent developments have highlighted an unprecedented strain in relations between Trump and Netanyahu. During the G7 Summit, Trump publicly criticized the Israeli leader, suggesting that Israel was not in a position to oppose the agreement.

Trump described Netanyahu as "a good man who sometimes goes a little too far," while criticizing the continuation of military operations in Lebanon and arguing that such actions had damaged Israel's international standing. He insisted that the agreement achieves Israel's most important objective: preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

In one of his most striking remarks, Trump recalled that Israel withdrew from participation in the operation that killed former Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in 2020 only hours before it was carried out, forcing the United States to proceed alone.

Israel Rejects Lebanon Provisions

According to media reports, Netanyahu informed the U.S. administration that Israel does not consider itself bound by the Lebanon-related provisions of the memorandum. He reportedly insisted that any Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon must be contingent upon the disarmament of Hezbollah.

Reports also indicated that U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance urged Netanyahu to begin a gradual withdrawal from southern Lebanon, but the Israeli prime minister rejected the proposal, pledging only that the Israeli military would act with greater caution.

Israeli Concerns and Domestic Criticism

Israeli concerns extend beyond the government. Recent polling suggests that a majority of Israelis believe ending the conflict under the proposed framework does not serve their security interests.

Opposition figures strongly criticized Netanyahu's handling of the situation. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak argued that "Israel emerged weaker while Iran emerged stronger," while opposition leader Yair Lapid described the agreement as one of the most shocking failures in Israeli foreign and security policy.

Within Israel's security establishment, fears have grown that Iran could use the negotiation period to shorten the time needed to develop a nuclear weapons capability despite the announced commitments.

Netanyahu Faces Growing Isolation

According to U.S. media reports, Netanyahu increasingly finds himself isolated in his opposition to the agreement, while many of his allies in Washington have avoided directly attacking a deal closely associated with Trump.

Although Netanyahu has sought to downplay reports of tensions with the U.S. president, his silence regarding the memorandum and its provisions—particularly those concerning a potential Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon—reflects the significant political pressure he faces just months before elections that could prove decisive for his political future.

While Washington views the agreement as a way to reduce regional tensions and prevent further escalation, Tehran has warned that any violation of the memorandum's terms, especially those related to Israel's presence in southern Lebanon, could jeopardize the agreement's future altogether.