Netanyahu faces backlash at home as Trump sidelines him from Iran negotiations: Here’s what awaits Israeli PM
As United States President Donald Trump signed the Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Versailles, France, attention has now turned to his ties with Israeli
As United States President Donald Trump signed the Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Versailles, France, attention has now turned to his ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to NBC News, the Israeli government was sidelined and was not shown the draft MoU aimed at ending the war. The move is particularly significant for Netanyahu, whose government was excluded from the negotiations that produced the agreement. Israel's absence from the talks is now emerging as a crucial challenge for Netanyahu, who is heading into what many consider a career-defining election before the end of October. Why the US-Iran deal is bad for Israel and Netanyahu? According to reports, when the US and Israel waged a war in late February, the two allies were optimistic that they could bring Tehran's regime to an end. The US president declared to Iranians that "the hour of your freedom is at hand” and urged them, at the appropriate moment, to “take over your government”. Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 Why was Israel sidelined in the US-Iran negotiations? ⌵ Israel was excluded from the negotiations that produced the Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), raising concerns for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, particularly as the agreement could impact Israel's security. 2 How has Netanyahu's position changed due to the US-Iran deal? ⌵ Netanyahu's position has weakened as he faces backlash for being sidelined from US-Iran negotiations, which some say could lead to significant repercussions for him in upcoming elections. 3 What is Netanyahu's response to the US-Iran peace deal? ⌵ Netanyahu has expressed frustrations about the deal, claiming he would continue to fight against Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, despite the peace agreement signaling a shift in US policy. 4 What criticisms has Netanyahu faced following the peace deal announcement? ⌵ Criticism has mounted against Netanyahu from various Israeli political figures and polls indicate a drop in public support, with many viewing the deal as a failure of his foreign policy.
5 How has President Trump's relationship with Netanyahu evolved during the Iran conflict? ⌵ Trump's relationship with Netanyahu has become strained, with the US president expressing frustration over Israeli military actions in Lebanon that jeopardize the peace negotiations. While the Islamic Republic of Iran has suffered damage from the aerial bombardment, it has not fallen and appears to be in no immediate danger of collapse. The sidelining from the negotiations and Washington's decision to agree to end hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, can prove frustrating for Netanyahu, who has spent years pushing for a war with Iran and popularising it in Israel, Al Jazeera reported. The Israeli PM has reportedly gone to considerable pains to put a lot of distance between himself and what he called "Trump's decision" to end the war, while he previously claimed to have been an equal partner in launching the war. Additionally, if the final agreement comes into effect within the stipulated time frame, Netanyahu, who has been the longest-serving prime minister, could face repercussions back home during elections. Daniel Shapiro, former US Ambassador to Israel and a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council, told PBS News that Netanyahu is now in a precarious situation and "All Hezbollah has to do is get one rocket across into an Israeli town in northern Israel, and then the pressure on Netanyahu — which he's already hearing from his own base and from the opposition... will ramp up." Israeli strikes on Lebanonanger Trump The apparent sidelining of Netanyahu comes at a time when his ties with Trump have gone for a toss. According to The Wall Street Journal, the frequent phone calls between the two leaders are becoming less friendly now. Citing sources, the report stated that while Trump was trying to broker a permanent end to his war in Iran, which has weighed on the US economy, he had choice words for the ally who urged him into it.
The BriefWire