Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Tuesday that Israel is not bound by the emerging agreement with Iran, and retains full freedom of action to prevent Hezbollah's military buildup. He spoke at the Local Government Center conference, amid ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared Tuesday that Israel 'is not committed to these agreements' regarding the emerging US-Iran deal, and that Jerusalem has set its red lines and will enforce them 'with determination.'
The statement, delivered at the Local Government Center's conference, comes as negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue behind the scenes. Smotrich emphasized that Israel maintains 'full freedom of action' and will continue preventing Hezbollah's military buildup 'as we have done until today.'
Smotrich's remarks echo earlier statements by other Israeli officials and commentators who have questioned the deal's implications for Israel's security. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem rejected any ceasefire allowing Israel freedom of movement, as The Zioneer reported Monday. Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also warned that Iran had conditioned any agreement on Israel halting its Lebanon operations, as The Zioneer reported on June 6.
No details on the exact terms of the emerging agreement have been published. Smotrich's comments represent the strongest public declaration yet by a senior Israeli minister that Jerusalem considers itself unbound by the diplomatic framework.
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