Gamliel Says Israel Has Freedom to Act in Lebanon and No Nuclear Arms for Iran

Innovation, Science and Technology Minister and cabinet member Gila Gamliel told Channel 7 that Israel is not a party to the emerging U.S.-Iran deal and will continue pursuing Hezbollah’s disarmament. She said Israel remains deep inside Lebanon, will not withdraw from areas it captured up to the Litani River and Beaufort, and will not allow residents to return there until Hezbollah is disarmed. In those areas, she said, the IDF has “full freedom of action” to protect northern Israeli communities.

Gamliel praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “one of a kind” and said he is clearly telling U.S. President Donald Trump that after October 7, northern Israel must receive security and Hezbollah cannot approach the border. She said that even if there is an existing ceasefire in southern Lebanon, Israel retains freedom of action wherever there is a threat to Israeli civilians, including an emerging threat.

On relations with Washington, Gamliel said Israel should thank Trump for his support but that disagreements between allies are acceptable. She said nothing is breaking down in U.S.-Israel ties or in the relationship between Netanyahu and Trump, and argued that America’s first-ever military assistance inside Iran came because of Netanyahu’s relations. She also said Trump has the ability to say enough when a country is harmed and that this helps him lead a state facing many fronts.

Addressing the draft accord, Gamliel said the relevant clauses currently concern the Strait of Hormuz, where she said the U.S. had imposed a blockade and is now lifting it, allowing ships through and returning the situation to what it was before. She said the agreement will face a 60-day test period and suggested Trump, as a businessman, may be buying time amid the World Cup, his birthday celebrations and the American Independence Day holiday, as well as the midterm elections.

On Iran’s nuclear program, Gamliel said Trump is committed to preventing Iranian nuclear weapons and will continue talks on removing enriched uranium. She said Netanyahu has made clear that there will be no nuclear weapon in Iran, and if Israel must act alone, it will. She added that Israel has significantly damaged Iran’s ballistic missile production capacity and expressed confidence that internal divisions will eventually bring down the Iranian regime.