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| Itamar Ben-Gvir is set to become Israel's national security minister - image by BBC |
Political tensions inside Israel intensified on Monday as senior government and opposition figures voiced strong opposition to a potential ceasefire in Lebanon and criticized recent diplomatic progress between the United States and Iran.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a prominent figure on the country's far-right political spectrum, called on the Israeli government to reject any ceasefire arrangement with Lebanon. In remarks made during an interview with Israeli public broadcaster KAN, Ben-Gvir argued that military pressure should continue and described Lebanon as a strategic arena in which Israel should maintain freedom of action.
According to Ben-Gvir, Israel should clearly communicate its position to U.S. President Donald Trump and make it known that it cannot support a ceasefire under current circumstances. While acknowledging Trump's support for Israel, Ben-Gvir stressed that decisions regarding Israeli security must ultimately be made by Israeli leaders.
"Trump is a true friend, and we should treat him respectfully and embrace him, but we need to tell him that we cannot agree to a ceasefire in Lebanon," Ben-Gvir said. He also claimed that ongoing military operations had produced favorable outcomes for Israeli forces.
His remarks come amid growing disagreements within Israel's political and security establishments over a memorandum of understanding recently reached between the United States and Iran. The agreement is intended to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran and could have significant implications for conflicts across the Middle East, including the situation along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Criticism of the agreement was also voiced by opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman, who described the U.S.-Iran understanding as one of the most serious diplomatic setbacks in Israel's history. Writing on the social media platform X, Lieberman argued that Israeli policy should be guided primarily by national security considerations rather than broader international concerns such as global energy markets.
"The agreement between Iran and the United States is the greatest political disaster since the establishment of the state," Lieberman wrote. He further suggested that efforts to stabilize oil prices may have influenced Washington's desire to de-escalate tensions with Iran.
The debate comes as Israel and Lebanon prepare for a fifth round of direct negotiations in Washington on Tuesday. The talks follow four previous rounds that began in April as part of an international effort to end hostilities and establish a more stable security framework along the border.
The negotiations, which are being facilitated by the United States, have taken place amid growing criticism within Israel regarding Washington's approach to discussions involving Iran and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Some Israeli officials fear that a broader U.S.-Iran agreement could strengthen Tehran's regional influence and provide political advantages to its allies throughout the Middle East.
According to reports citing Israeli officials, concerns have emerged that American negotiators may underestimate the ideological motivations driving both Iran and Hezbollah. Those officials argued that a deeper understanding of the region's political and religious dynamics is necessary to achieve lasting security arrangements.
The conflict in Lebanon has had a severe humanitarian impact. Official Lebanese figures indicate that Israeli military operations since March 2 have resulted in more than 4,100 deaths and over 12,000 injuries. Large areas of southern Lebanon have also suffered extensive damage, leading to displacement and ongoing reconstruction challenges.
Meanwhile, Israel continues to maintain a military presence in parts of southern Lebanon. Some of these territories have been under Israeli control for decades, while others were seized during the 2023–2024 conflict. The future status of these areas remains one of the key issues expected to be discussed during upcoming negotiations.
As diplomatic efforts continue, divisions within Israel highlight the broader challenge facing regional leaders: balancing security concerns, military objectives, and diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing tensions across the Middle East. The outcome of the Washington talks and the evolving U.S.-Iran dialogue could play a significant role in shaping the region's security landscape in the months ahead.
