The Israeli government did not receive the memorandum of understanding (MOU) intended to conclude the conflict with Iran, an official disclosed. This revelation highlights ongoing strains between the United States and Israel. Although President Donald Trump claimed he had shared the MOU with Israel, the source confirmed the document’s absence.
Negotiations excluding the Israeli government have posed challenges for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, especially with crucial elections approaching in October. A U.S. official later shared the framework of the deal with NBC News.
“Without me, there would be no Israel,” Trump declared, calling Netanyahu “crazy” and criticizing his actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Trump publicly criticized Israeli tactics in Lebanon at the G7 summit, saying, “You don’t have to knock down an apartment house every time you’re looking for somebody.” This pointed to concerns over the humanitarian impact and its interference with peace talks.
With the U.S. and Iran’s draft agreement signing set for Friday, Netanyahu faces increasing public scrutiny. Israel joined the conflict in February, enduring retaliatory strikes. Criticism has mounted over Netanyahu’s inability to effectively counter Iran and Hezbollah.
As per an Israeli Democracy Institute survey, 57.5% of citizens doubt the agreement aligns with Israel’s security interests. Netanyahu’s domestic challengers, like former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, have been vocal in their criticism.
“Iran emerged stronger; Israel emerged weaker. That is Netanyahu’s strategic responsibility,” Barak stated.
Yair Lapid, another contender, echoed this sentiment and pledged to rectify the situation, stating, “Netanyahu can no longer fix it, we will do it.”
Netanyahu defended the war with Iran, emphasizing, “We saved the state of Israel from annihilation.” He also addressed concerns about his relationship with Trump. “Many times we see eye to eye, and there are also cases in which we see less eye to eye,” he remarked.
Future negotiations remain uncertain as Iran signaled that Israel’s actions in Lebanon breached the MOU. Meanwhile, skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah persist, despite quieter northern borders since the deal announcement.