When US President Donald Trump signed the Iran agreement (MoU) in Versailles, France, all eyes turned to his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to an NBC News report, the Israeli government was kept out of the negotiations and was not even informed about the draft agreement, which was designed to end the conflict.
This development is considered significant for Netanyahu because his government was excluded from the diplomatic process that made the agreement possible. At a time when Israel is heading toward potential elections before the end of October, many analysts view this as a decisive moment for Netanyahu’s political future.
Why has the Iran deal compounded Netanyahu’s difficulties?
Reports indicate that in late February, both the US and Israel had hoped that military action could weaken or topple the regime in Tehran. At the time, US President Trump had told the Iranian people that “the time for your freedom has come” and urged them to “take the reins of their government into their own hands” when the right moment arrived.
However, the US move toward an agreement with Iran—and the exclusion of Israel from this process—is now seen as a new political and strategic challenge for Netanyahu.
Although airstrikes have inflicted damage on the Islamic Republic of Iran, the regime has not collapsed, nor does it appear to be in immediate danger of falling.
Netanyahu Disappointed by Trump’s ‘Decision’
According to an Al Jazeera report, Netanyahu is likely disappointed by being sidelined from the negotiations and by Washington’s decision to end hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon; he had spent years pushing for a war with Iran and had garnered public support for it within Israel. Reports suggest that the Israeli Prime Minister has tried to distance himself from “Trump’s decision” to end the war, even though he had previously claimed to be an equal partner in initiating it.
Furthermore, if a final agreement is implemented within the set timeframe, Netanyahu—Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister—could face difficulties during the country’s elections.
Daniel Shapiro, former US Ambassador to Israel and a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council, told PBS News that Netanyahu is now in a precarious position: “All Hezbollah has to do is fire a single rocket at a town in northern Israel, and the pressure on Netanyahu—already mounting from both his supporters and the opposition—will intensify further.”
Trump Irked by Israeli Strikes on Lebanon
This instance of keeping Netanyahu out of the negotiations comes at a time when his relationship with Trump has soured. According to The Wall Street Journal, phone calls between the two leaders have become less cordial.
Citing sources, the report states that while Trump was attempting to permanently end the war with Iran—a conflict that has impacted the US economy—he used harsh language toward the ally who had urged him into the war.
During a recent phone call regarding Lebanon, Trump asked Netanyahu, “Why are you blowing up buildings?” and told him to “stop blowing up buildings.” In another call, he reportedly complained that the global economic downturn caused by the war could link his legacy to Herbert Hoover and the Great Depression of the 1930s.
This is not the first time Trump has expressed anger at Netanyahu since the war began in late February; Trump himself acknowledged this earlier this month. On Tuesday, he said, “There would be no Israel without America. There would be no Israel without me because no other president was willing to do what I did. I have had a very good relationship with Bibi (Netanyahu). Now, Bibi needs to be more responsible regarding Lebanon.”
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly criticized the Israeli Prime Minister, feeling that Tel Aviv was jeopardizing the agreement. Earlier this month, both leaders attempted to downplay alleged rifts, even though the Republican president acknowledged having shouted at Netanyahu and called him “f–king crazy.”
Citing a senior US official, the WSJ reported that conversations between the two leaders often involved the Israeli leader advocating for further military action—something that had begun to frustrate Trump. The official added, “Bibi explains to the President why something needs to be blown up, and why Israeli intelligence knows how and when to do it, and the President listens to him.”
Netanyahu’s Support Declines
According to PBS News, Israelis across the political spectrum reacted angrily on Monday to the announcement of the peace deal. They termed it a disaster for Tel Aviv and directed all their ire at a single individual: Netanyahu. Although he reiterated at a press conference on Monday that—”with or without the deal”—he would continue to fight to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, critics, rivals, and even government officials harshly criticized the decision to enter into the interim agreement.
Critics Call Him Arrogant and Shortsighted
In an interview, former Israeli Prime Minister and Netanyahu’s rival, Ehud Barak, stated, “Israel is paying the price for Netanyahu’s arrogance and shortsightedness, as well as for the gambits he attempted to play with Trump.” He added, “Iran has grown stronger; Israel has weakened. This is Netanyahu’s strategic responsibility. He failed in this regard.”
Netanyahu Bears Full Responsibility for Failures
Yair Lapid, who is set to challenge Netanyahu in the Israeli legislative elections on June 14, remarked that the agreement—which would facilitate a truce between Washington and Tehran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz—is proving to be “one of the most shocking failures of Israel’s foreign and security policy”… and the entire responsibility for this lies with Netanyahu.
However, it is not just Netanyahu’s political opponents who are attacking him; Israeli public opinion polls paint a similar picture. Citing data from the ‘Institute for National Security Studies,’ NBC News reported that in March, approximately 60% of Israelis were satisfied with the military achievements of the war thus far. By May, that figure had dropped to 27%. Israelis view Netanyahu as having ‘failed’ in the war
Yossi Mekelberg, an Associate Fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, told Al Jazeera that Washington would determine Tel Aviv’s role in the upcoming talks. He added that a debate would now ensue within the country regarding what has been achieved ahead of the upcoming election season.
He also noted a consensus among all Israeli political parties that the war had failed to achieve its objectives. According to him, not only was Israel sidelined from the diplomatic process, but Netanyahu also failed to realize any of his key goals, which included regime change in Iran, dismantling Tehran’s nuclear program, halting its support for regional armed groups, and significantly degrading its ballistic missile capabilities.
If the US-Iran agreement evolves into a final deal, Netanyahu’s biggest political battle might not be in Iran, but within his own country.
(With agency inputs)