Ex-Israeli PM Says Israel Could Have Rejected US-Iran Deal as Trump Highlights Netanyahu’s ‘Shaky’ Reelection Prospects

JERUSALEM, June 20: Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Israel could have rejected the recently signed US-Iran agreement and insisted that Israeli leaders are capable of saying “no” to Washington, as US President Donald Trump fueled speculation about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future.

In an interview with Israeli radio station 103FM, affiliated with the Maariv newspaper, Bennett sharply criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict with Iran, describing the outcome as “a terrible failure.”

According to Bennett, the war failed to achieve its strategic objectives, arguing that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs remain intact.

“Iran continues its nuclear program and is moving forward with its ballistic missile program, while the regime remains in place,” Bennett said.

The former premier also rejected the notion that Israel must automatically comply with US demands. Asked whether he would be willing to refuse a request from President Trump if he were in office today, Bennett said he had done so previously with former US President Joe Biden.

Bennett recalled that during his tenure as prime minister from 2021 to 2022, Biden sought the reopening of a US consulate for Palestinians in East Jerusalem.

“When I took office, Biden said he wanted to establish the consulate, and I told him: Mr. President, Jerusalem is the capital of only one state, Israel, and I can only refuse,” Bennett said.

“So yes, we can stand and say no,” he added.

His comments came days after US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian electronically signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, a deal intended to establish a framework for ending the conflict that began on Feb. 28 and to advance negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Follow-up technical discussions between US and Iranian officials are scheduled to take place in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on Sunday, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.

Meanwhile, Trump appeared to increase pressure on Netanyahu by sharing an article on his Truth Social platform examining the Israeli leader’s reelection prospects and the influence Washington could have on the outcome.

The article, titled “Trump Holds the Cards in Netanyahu’s Shaky Reelection Chances,” highlighted Trump's remarks suggesting that his support for Netanyahu is not guaranteed.

“I’ll have to look at who’s running,” Trump said in an interview cited by the report.

While indicating that he would “most likely” endorse Netanyahu, Trump said he would also consider other potential contenders, including Bennett and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.

The development comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon. Trump has repeatedly criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict, arguing that Israeli military actions, including strikes on Beirut shortly before the signing of the Iran peace memorandum, prolonged the crisis unnecessarily.

The latest remarks underscore widening differences between the two longtime allies as debates continue over the US-Iran agreement, regional security, and the future direction of Israeli leadership.