The Israeli government was not given the memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at ending the war with Iran, an official revealed. This added to the growing strain between the United States and Israel.
Despite President Donald Trump’s statement that he had provided the MOU to Israel, the same source indicated the draft remains unseen by Israeli officials. It’s unclear if Israeli diplomats requested access and were denied.
The MOU absence in the negotiations poses a significant challenge for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces critical elections by October’s end. NBC News received the framework from a senior U.S. official later that day, further complicating Netanyahu’s position.
“Without me, there would be no Israel,” Trump proclaimed at the G7 summit, harshly criticizing Netanyahu for his poor judgment and handling of Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Trump condemned Israel’s attacks in Lebanon, which displaced over a million and killed more than 3,500. He criticized Israeli operations for escalating regional tensions, saying, “Too many people have been killed.”
As the U.S. and Iran neared signing a draft agreement, Netanyahu faced mounting domestic pressure. Israel joined the U.S. in war against Iran in February, enduring weeks of Iranian missile and drone attacks.
Netanyahu’s government is accused of not weakening Iran and Hezbollah enough. A survey by the Israeli Democracy Institute found 57.5% of Israelis felt the ongoing negotiations were incompatible with national security interests.
Netanyahu’s critics, including former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, blame him for Israel’s diminished standing post-conflict. He stated, “Iran emerged stronger; Israel emerged weaker.”
Yair Lapid, a leading opponent, termed the MOU a significant foreign policy failure, promising, “It can be fixed, it must be fixed. Netanyahu can no longer fix it, we will do it.”
During a speech, Netanyahu defended the war’s necessity, though he had not reviewed the draft agreement. He stressed Israel’s removal from imminent danger, saving the country from potential annihilation.
Addressing questions, Netanyahu downplayed tensions with Trump, stating they sometimes disagree but share common views. He asserted responsibility for Israel’s security interests.
The future of Israel’s participation in negotiations remains uncertain, with Iran citing Israeli actions in Lebanon as violations of the MOU. Although the northern border is quieter post-announcement, conflict with Hezbollah persists in southern Lebanon.
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