Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said the country rejects the U.S.–Iran peace agreement and will not be bound by its terms.
The rejection signals a significant rift between the U.S. and its closest regional ally, potentially undermining the diplomatic framework of the deal. If Israel refuses to adhere to the agreement, the stability of the peace process and the security arrangements in the Middle East could be compromised.
Ben-Gvir said that Israel is not a partner to the agreement because it fails to ensure the nation's security [1, 2]. He said that the deal compromises critical red lines regarding Lebanon and Hezbollah [1, 2]. Because of these security gaps, the minister said the agreement cannot bind the state of Israel in any capacity [1, 2].
"We are not partners to this agreement that does not ensure our security, and it does not bind us in any way," Ben-Gvir said [1].
The minister's comments reflect a broader pushback against perceived American influence over Israeli sovereign decisions. Ben-Gvir said the Israeli government is independent in relation to Washington's foreign policy goals. "Israel is not a US colony," Ben-Gvir said [3].
Other officials from the Israeli National Security Ministry said the agreement does not bind the country [1]. The ministry's position remains that any deal involving Iran must account for the specific threats posed by Hezbollah, and the volatile situation in Lebanon, to be viable.
“"Israel is not a US colony."”
This public rejection by a high-ranking Israeli official suggests that the U.S.–Iran peace deal was negotiated without sufficient Israeli buy-in or fails to address Israel's core security requirements. By explicitly stating that the deal is not binding, Israel is asserting its autonomy and signaling that it may take unilateral action if it perceives a threat from Iran or its proxies, regardless of the U.S. agreement.
