Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he rejects insulting comments directed at senior American officials, after the political uproar over a deal backed by Donald Trump. The dispute intensified as ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich publicly attacked the agreement and the U.S. role behind it.
Ben Gvir was the first Israeli political figure to respond to the agreement, saying Trump’s deal does not bind Israel and that Israel must protect its citizens and soldiers without being subordinate to the United States. He said Israel is “an independent and sovereign country,” insisted it should not be part of an arrangement that does not protect its security, and argued it must not compromise before Hezbollah is dismantled, withdraw from any captured territory, or accept a situation in which “thousands of terrorists” sit on the northern border.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance pushed back in an interview with The New York Times, saying, “Israel is a country of nine million people. You cannot ‘kill your way out’ of every security problem you face.” He said Washington acts in its own national interest and that differences with Jerusalem are sometimes unavoidable. Hours later, Trump wrote on Truth, “The oil is flowing, and Iran will never get a nuclear weapon. You’re welcome!”
Vance later said at the White House that Iran would only receive compensation payments if it completely changed its behavior and ensured it would not possess missiles threatening the world. He said pragmatic forces in Iran now shape the country’s tone, that Iran will need major funding to rebuild its destroyed nuclear program, and that there is a clear expectation for Israel and Hezbollah to honor the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. He added that the cabinet ministers criticizing Trump should remember, “He is the only leader who likes you, your defense came from our money,” and said Netanyahu appears to know the deal’s details even though he has not publicly criticized it.
