Israelis expressed dismay on Monday and Tuesday following the US and Iran’s confirmation that they had completed talks on a memorandum of understanding to end the conflict, saying that the Iranian regime was untrustworthy, and with it still intact, it would continue to pose an ongoing existential threat to the Jewish State.
Speaking to The Jerusalem Post on Jaffa Street in central Jerusalem, some Israelis indicated that, with the MoU, which is set to be officially signed in Switzerland on Friday, they saw an emerging rift between the US and Israel.
One man, who holds both American and Israeli citizenship, said he was confused by US President Donald Trump’s decision to come to a deal with the Iranians.
“For us, it's horrible. I don't know what Trump is thinking. I'm also American, so I’m assuming he has Americans' interests in mind,” he said, adding that although he saw no reason to trust the Iranians, he assumed that Trump had his own reasons, even if they were incongruent with Israel’s needs.
“It sucks, he added. “It just means that we are going to be in this s**t a lot longer. I don't trust it at all. You can't negotiate with the IRGC like you negotiate with Western countries. It's not the same. They’re motivated by religious extremist ideals.”
One woman who spoke to the Post had a similar message, speculating that it was possible the MoU could be good for the US, but left Israel in a dangerous position.
“Maybe for the US it's a good deal, but not for Israel. If the regime is still there, Israel will still be in danger, because the regime wants to eliminate Israel. It would have been good, at least, if Iran is staying as it is, that Hezbollah would be out, and Hamas would be out. At least around Israel, there would be peace.”
Israelis dismayed at Trump deal with Iran, say that it's meaningless
Another man said that in his view, the agreement won’t create any meaningful change in the region.”
“It's political theater,” he said. “There is no end to this conflict. The JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) shows that any agreement with Iran is not worth the paper its written on.”
He continued, saying that what agreement may actually do is indicate that the US-Israel relationship may deteriorate in the future.
“This is basically a holding pattern for Israel,” he said. “I'm trying to understand exactly what this means. Did the US really abandon Israel just to make this deal? It's going to raise a lot of questions about US support for Israel, and if it’s really got a future.”
Another young man expressed frustration with the deal and lashed out at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for engaging Israel in a war that ultimately ended with an agreement that left Tehran’s regime rooted.
“I don't know all the details, but I would say that I am frustrated with it. I feel like Benjamin Netanyahu started a war that he couldn't finish on his own terms. If you want to do a war, you should have a way to end it with terms that are on your side. If you are not capable of taking down the Ayatollah regime, then don't drag us through 40 days of alarms.”
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He also went on to express frustration that Israel, which was not a party to the MoU, was still implicated in it through its agreement that the ceasefire would include Lebanon.
“Israel can’t vote for the United States of America's elections, but apparently, if Trump says something, then we all have to do as he says.”
Similarly, another man who spoke to the Post said that he saw the MoU as a betrayal because it involved Israel without any Israeli input.
Still, he said, he thought it would ultimately be positive, speculating that it would advance closer ties between Israel and other regional powers.
“It's betrayal, but it will be very good for Israel still,” he said. “There will be new connections with Saudi (Arabia) and the Emirates, and everything. So, they will have to manage themselves without America.”