Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir launched a sharp attack Sunday against Israel’s decision to accept the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding and ceasefire arrangements in Lebanon, arguing that Israeli leaders should have resisted American pressure and continued military operations.

The comments mark one of the strongest public criticisms yet from within the coalition regarding the government’s handling of the post-war diplomatic process and its cooperation with the Trump administration’s regional strategy.

Speaking in a heated interview with Army Radio, Ben Gvir argued that Israel must be willing to reject American demands when vital national interests are at stake.

“One must know how to tell the President of the United States ‘no’ when it comes to the existential interests of the State of Israel,” Ben Gvir said. “It was a serious strategic mistake to stop the fighting at this point. With all due respect to friendship, President Trump will not go and comfort the families of soldiers during shivah.”

The minister contended that decisions regarding Israel’s security should be based solely on the country’s long-term strategic needs, regardless of pressure from allies abroad.

Ben Gvir also directed criticism toward ongoing diplomatic contacts between Israel and Lebanon, which have reportedly continued alongside the deployment of IDF forces in the security zone in southern Lebanon.

The minister said he strongly opposes any negotiations with Beirut while Hezbollah remains active and influential inside the country.

“There should be no negotiations whatsoever with the Lebanese government as long as the Hezbollah terrorist organization remains there and continues to wield influence,” he declared.

Warning against what he views as a repeat of past mistakes, Ben Gvir argued that failing to decisively defeat Hezbollah now could create even greater dangers in the future.

“If we compromise now and do not decisively defeat them, they will try to carry out another October 7 against us across the border in a few years,” he said. “We must not return to the conception.”

His remarks come as debate intensifies within Israel over the U.S.-Iran agreement, the ceasefire framework in Lebanon, and the broader question of how aggressively Israel should confront Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed forces in the region.

While supporters of the agreement argue that it provides an opportunity for stability and prevents a wider regional war, Ben Gvir and other critics contend that the current diplomatic track risks allowing Israel’s enemies to regroup and prepare for future attacks.

{Matzav.com}