Instead, the agreement is viewed as a lifeline for a long-standing archenemy—coming only a few months upon him rescuing Hamas.
When Donald Trump returned to the White House in early 2025, he was regarded across much of Israel as its most reliable ally. Few American presidents had so openly supported Jerusalem’s strategic interests. All the greater, then, is the current disillusionment over his Peace agreement with Iran.
Criticism in Israeli media has been particularly sharp. The news site Ynet published a widely noted commentary describing the deal as a “betrayal” of Israel. The author, Boaz Haetzni, argues that Washington is granting the Iranian regime economic and political concessions without adequately addressing Israel’s core security concerns.
Shimon Riklin, a presenter on Channel 14, likewise stated that Trump had stabbed Israel in the back. Many representatives of Israel’s security establishment had hoped that military pressure on Tehran would continue until the regime was fundamentally weakened or even overthrown. Instead, they view the agreement as a lifeline for a long-standing archenemy—coming only a few months upon him rescuing Hamas.
Even former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert acknowledged that the agreement could indeed be perceived in Israel as a “betrayal.” He pointed to the significant gap between the original war objectives and the compromise ultimately negotiated.
Other Israeli media outlets adopt a more restrained tone yet arrive at similar conclusions. The main criticism is that the agreement neither comprehensively addresses Iran’s missile program nor its support for regional allies such as the so-called Hezbollah. In addition, many Israeli observers feel sidelined in the negotiation process.
Criticism is not directed solely at Donald Trump. Commentators from the political center and the left accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of overestimating his personal closeness to the American president. In their view, Israel relied too heavily on a single ally and is now forced to adapt to a changed geopolitical reality.
The fact that an American president long regarded as Israel’s closest friend is now described by some Israeli voices as a traitor underscores how deep the disappointment over the Iran agreement runs within parts of the Israeli public.
By Okay Altinisik | 19-6-2026, 7:50:29
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