Israeli commentators have reacted with alarm to the emerging US deal with Iran, which reports indicate could leave Iran in a stronger position in the region.
“There have only been voices against the deal in the media this morning,” Mairav Zonszein, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, told The New Arab.
“The gist of what we’re hearing is literally the worst scenario that Netanyahu could think of,” she said.
Reports suggest that the US will not require Iran to make any commitments over its nuclear programme during the first phase of the agreement, while discussions over its ballistic missiles and support for regional allies appear to have been taken off the table entirely.
Speculation is growing that the Trump administration will also agree to ease some of its sanctions on Iran and lift its blockade in return for a re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Jacob Nagel, a former national security advisor to Netanyahu, described the deal as a “capitulation” in an interview on Israeli radio this morning.
Zonszein said that Netanyahu may attempt to use the war with Hezbollah in Lebanon to derail the agreement and could push for a return to war after the reported 60-day ceasefire extension expires.
“The trajectory that we seem to be on in the coming days is one in which Netanyahu will have to oblige Trump,” she said. “But the question is, what actually happens in the coming weeks?”
Netanyahu attends a ceremony for Remembrance Day on 21 April 2026. [Getty]
