"The agreement by US President Donald Trump is not binding on us. Israel is not a vassal state of the United States and is not party to this document. It does not guarantee our security," Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's Minister of National Security and a far-right member of the cabinet, posted on social media today.

This marks the first reaction from a high-ranking Israeli official to the agreement announced by the US and Iran on 14/6. The deal immediately and permanently ends military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. The two sides are scheduled to sign the formal agreement in Geneva, Switzerland on 19/6.

"We should not accept any compromise that does not include disarming Hezbollah. Israel must not withdraw from even an inch of territory that our soldiers have gained control of," Minister Gvir stressed.

Minister Ben Gvir in Jerusalem in 9/2023. Photo: Reuters

Israeli Defense Minister Katz also stated that the country will not withdraw from areas it controls in southern Lebanon under the agreement between Washington and Tehran. He warned of retaliation if Iran attacks Israel related to developments in Lebanon.

Katz said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had directly conveyed this position to President Trump. He reiterated this during a phone call on 14/6 with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Yair Golan, leader of Israel's left-wing Democratic party and a former army general, expressed a similar view to Ben Gvir, posting on X that the agreement "was reached without Israel's participation or consent" and "has given Tehran a lifeline."

Hours before the US and Iran announced the agreement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacked a "Hezbollah headquarters" in Dahiyeh, a suburb of Lebanon's capital Beirut, an area considered a Hezbollah stronghold.

Trump later became angry with Prime Minister Netanyahu, arguing that Israel should not have launched an airstrike on Beirut at a time when Washington and Tehran were close to reaching an agreement. He added that the airstrike "was very small in scale and meaningless."

Moment a building in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon was attacked on 14/6. Video: IDF

"Why did Bibi order that damn airstrike? I was very angry and told the Israeli prime minister that he doesn't know how to assess the situation," the US leader recounted, using Prime Minister Netanyahu's nickname.

According to the US President, the airstrike "messed everything up and delayed the signing by a few hours." He argued that the document would benefit Israel because it prevents Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, requires the destruction of radioactive materials, and allows for snap inspections of nuclear facilities in the country.

Huyen Le (Source: AFP, CNN, Reuters)