▲ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump
The New York Times (NYT) reported on June 14 (local time) that dissatisfaction is erupting in Israel, a key party to the war, following the ceasefire agreement reached between the United States and Iran.
The discontent stems from the fact that the terms of the U.S.-Iran agreement are significantly distant from the goals Israel set when it initiated the war.
At the beginning of the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the objective was to neutralize Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities.
In particular, he declared that Israel would eliminate the existential threat posed to the nation and create conditions for the Iranian people to replace their current regime.
Ending support for Iran's proxy forces, such as the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, was also among Israel's goals.
However, it is reported that the U.S.-Iran agreement does not include measures regarding Iran's ballistic missile program or the cessation of support for its proxy forces.
Public criticism has already emerged from within Israel's political sphere.
Avigdor Lieberman, a right-wing former defense minister, described the deal as "a disaster from Israel's perspective" on social media.
Yair Lapid, a centrist opposition leader and former prime minister, also stated, "I hope the reports are not true," adding, "If they are, it would be one of the most shocking failures of Israeli foreign and security policy."
Public sentiment is also negative.
This is due to frustration over the fact that Israel, which has fought two wars against Iran over the past year, has been placed in a position where it must accept the results of the ceasefire negotiations without having directly participated in them.
The headline on the front page of Yedioth Ahronoth, a widely read Israeli daily newspaper, read "A Bad Agreement."
It is reported that the Israeli government is also concerned that if this agreement leads to the easing of sanctions on Iran, it could ultimately result in the stabilization of the Iranian regime.
While Israeli government officials are refraining from public criticism, it is understood that there is significant concern internally.
Many analysts suggest that Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has leveraged his close ties with President Trump as a political asset, will find it difficult to easily accept the outcome of this agreement.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is now facing a situation where he must bear a greater political burden.
With a general election approaching in October, Netanyahu has long used his relationship with President Donald Trump as a political asset, but following the end of the war, he is expected to be exposed to simultaneous attacks from hardliners within his coalition government and the opposition.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.