National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir launched a public rebuke on Thursday evening against U.S. Vice President JD Vance over the emerging understanding between Washington and Tehran. In a post on X in English, Ben Gvir tagged Vance directly and attached a screenshot of the vice president asking him and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, "What exactly is your proposal?"
Ben Gvir answered, "This is the proposal, to deal with the Nazis of the 21st century, exactly as the United States dealt with the Nazis of the 20th century." His response came amid fierce criticism in Israel of the memorandum of understandings between the U.S. and Iran.
Vance has spent recent days defending the effort, arguing it would make Israel and the wider region safer. He has said some of the Israeli opposition stems from misinformation about the details, and stressed that the United States will pursue its own interests even when they do not fully align with Israel's. Earlier, he said Israel may like the agreement or oppose it, but the administration believes it serves U.S. interests and would prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Ben Gvir, who opposes the deal and says Israel is not bound by it, used the exchange to argue for continuing the campaign until the Iranian regime is defeated and the threat is removed, rather than striking a deal that eases pressure on Tehran. The dispute highlights the widening gap between the Trump administration and parts of the Israeli government, as Washington seeks to turn wartime gains into an agreement and end the fighting, while Ben Gvir and Smotrich warn the understandings would let Iran rebuild, continue its missile program, and preserve regional influence.
