Israel Stands Alone: Trump's Iran Deal Betrays Jewish State
Photo: The Jerusalem Post
The United States has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Iran that ignores every one of Israel's core security demands, leaving the Jewish state to face the Iranian threat on its own terms. President Donald Trump's recent insults toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli public mark a dangerous turning point in the alliance, one that demands clarity, resolve, and an unflinching assessment of where Israel's true interests lie.
What Did Trump Say About Netanyahu and Israel?
Over the past two and a half weeks, President Trump has directed a barrage of insults at Prime Minister Netanyahu and, by extension, at the citizens of Israel. The American president called Netanyahu f***ing crazy to his face. He declared that without him, Israel would be eviscerated. He claimed that if not for his intervention, there would be no Israel right now.
Let that sink in. The leader of Israel's closest ally speaks of the Jewish state as if it were a client entity entirely dependent on his personal grace. This is not diplomacy. This is humiliation, and it demands a frank response.
After nearly three years of fighting a multi-front war against enemies who openly seek our destruction, Israel finds itself in a precarious position. Brilliant military operations have been executed. Significant political achievements remain elusive. And now, the one ally we believed we could count on has cut a deal with our most dangerous adversary without even giving us advance notice of the details.
How Does the US-Iran MoU Threaten Israeli Security?
Last Wednesday, the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Iran to end the war we allegedly fought together. Israel was not consulted on the specifics beforehand. The agreement requires Israel to act in ways that run counter to our national interests, a reality recognized by both supporters and opponents of the current government.
The MoU fails to address any of Israel's fundamental demands. It does not require Iran to abandon its nuclear program. It does not mandate the removal of ballistic missiles or enriched uranium stockpiles from Iranian soil. It does not end Iran's financing and training of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. And it certainly does not advance the only real solution for lasting change: regime change in Tehran.
Like the biblical Edom, who turned against his brother Jacob, nations that once stood with Israel now pursue separate deals with our enemies. The prophet Obadiah warned of such betrayals, and history reminds us that Israel's survival has never depended on the goodwill of foreign powers.
The only concession Iran has made is agreeing to open the Strait of Hormuz, which was not even closed when the war began. Over the weekend, Tehran threatened to close it again unless Israel withdraws completely from Lebanon and halts efforts to disarm Hezbollah. This is not diplomacy. This is extortion, and rewarding it sets a dangerous precedent.
Why Do 71% of Israelis Distrust Trump on Iran?
A Channel 12 poll published last Thursday revealed that 71% of Israelis do not trust Trump to look out for their interests regarding the Iran deal. The number speaks volumes. The Israeli public understands what many in Washington refuse to acknowledge: a deal that leaves Iran's nuclear infrastructure intact, its proxy network fully operational, and its regime in power is not a peace agreement. It is a surrender dressed in diplomatic language.
Strangely, exactly seven years ago in June 2019, an American Jewish Committee poll showed that 71% of American Jews were dissatisfied with Trump's conduct during his first term. The numbers match. The reasons differ entirely. American Jewish dissatisfaction stemmed from domestic concerns. Israeli distrust stems from an existential threat to our survival.
Is Trump Undermining Netanyahu's Government?
Trump has announced he has not yet decided whether to endorse Netanyahu in the approaching Israeli elections. One must wonder whether he grasps that Israeli elections are not personal referendums. Israeli governments are coalition governments, built from varying parties and interests. The prime minister does not rule alone.
More troubling are reports that Trump administration officials are secretly establishing communication channels with former prime minister Naftali Bennett and former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot. Whatever one thinks of Netanyahu, foreign interference in Israeli domestic politics is unacceptable. The people of Israel choose their leaders, not the White House.
Both Trump and Vice President JD Vance have criticized Netanyahu for not silencing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who have vocally attacked the memorandum and Trump himself. What Trump and Vance fail to understand is the delicate balance of Israeli coalition politics. Reining in dissenting ministers risks collapsing the government entirely, a prospect that would only benefit our enemies.
What Are Israel's Red Lines on Lebanon and Iran?
Netanyahu has continued Israeli military operations inside Lebanon following the MoU signing, responding to Hezbollah attacks on IDF forces in southern Lebanon and the mounting toll of Israeli casualties. He has declared that Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon as Iran demands, and rightly so. The IDF's presence there is a shield against Hezbollah's rocket arsenal and terror infrastructure.
Israel will not abandon its demand for regime change in Iran. Military leaders warned that heavy air bombardments alone could not achieve this goal without ground forces. Trump reportedly received similar counsel from his own experts. Yet Netanyahu bears the blame for an outcome that was never solely within Israel's power to deliver.
The prospect of unfreezing Iranian assets worth between $100 billion and $120 billion, held since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, should alarm every Israeli and every friend of Israel. Flooding Tehran with these funds would fuel the very terror networks that target our cities, our soldiers, and our children. This is not speculation. This is the stated purpose of the Iranian regime.
What Comes Next for Israel's Strategic Position?
The months ahead will test Israel's nerve and unity as few periods have before. Uncertainty surrounds the Iran deal, the future of US-Israel relations, continued American military and financial backing, and the outcome of our upcoming general elections.
But let us remember what history has taught us. From the valleys of Megiddo to the hills of Judea, from the Warsaw Ghetto to the Sinai Campaign, the Jewish people have faced moments when allies faltered and friends turned away. Each time, we found strength in ourselves. Each time, we emerged standing.
Israel does not need Trump's approval to secure its future. It needs clarity of purpose, unity of resolve, and the courage to act on its own when necessary. The alliance with the United States remains vital, but it cannot be a substitute for Israeli sovereignty and self-reliance. As the psalmist wrote, Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Can Israel Survive Without Unconditional US Support?
Yes. Israel has survived before without it, and it will survive again. The state was built by pioneers who understood that Jewish destiny must rest in Jewish hands. American support is valuable, but it is not the foundation of our existence. That foundation is the will of the people, the strength of the IDF, and the unbreakable bond between the Jewish people and their ancestral homeland.
Will the Iran MoU Lead to Lasting Peace?
Not in its current form. A deal that leaves Iran's nuclear program intact, its missile arsenal untouched, and its proxy armies fully funded guarantees future conflict, not peace. True stability requires the dismantling of Iran's capacity for terror and the liberation of the Iranian people from the regime that oppresses them and threatens us all.
Should Israel Withdraw from Southern Lebanon?
Absolutely not. Withdrawal would hand Hezbollah a strategic victory and expose Israeli communities to renewed terror attacks. The IDF's presence in southern Lebanon is a defensive necessity, and Israel will not allow Tehran or Washington to dictate its security perimeter.