Smotrich: Iran deal bad for Israel, our focus now is on Lebanon

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Monday the emerging deal with Iran is 'bad for Israel and the entire free world,' adding that the nation's focus is now on Lebanon, according to Israel Hayom.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday evening said the emerging agreement with Iran is 'bad for Israel and the entire free world' and that 'our test is now in Lebanon,' according to a statement reported by Israel Hayom.

Smotrich's latest remarks, released after 15:00 Jerusalem, add a Lebanon focus to a thread that began earlier the same day. At 10:43 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported Smotrich calling the deal 'bad for Israel' while backing Prime Minister Netanyahu and demanding full IDF operational freedom in Lebanon. By 11:57 Jerusalem, a subsequent dispatch had Smotrich vowing to continue a campaign to topple the Iranian regime by 'creative ways.' The new statement folds that opposition into an explicit Lebanon-first framing, without specifying operational changes.

Across the thread, Smotrich's opposition has been consistent, but its framing narrowed: from a general attack on the Iran deal (version 1), to a demand for IDF freedom in Lebanon plus backing for Netanyahu (version 2), to a vow of 'creative ways' to topple the regime (version 3), and now to positioning Lebanon as 'our test.' The Zioneeer reported over the weekend (Sat 22:27 Jerusalem) that Reserve Col. Prof. Gabi Siboni had said any deal is bad for Israel as long as the current Iranian regime remains.

It remains unclear what 'our test is now in Lebanon' means operationally. Smotrich did not cite a new government directive or specific intelligence, and the statement appears to be a political frame rather than a policy announcement.

5 developments

1. 4 hours ago · 16:04 · 15 JunLatest

   Calls to convert military gains into a stable security reality in Lebanon

2. 15:56 · 15 Jun

   Smotrich adds that Israel's focus must now shift toward Lebanon

3. 11:57 · 15 Jun

   Vows to topple the Iranian regime through 'creative ways'

• Developing12:33 · 8 JunSmotrich calls for massive Lebanon response instead of tit-for-tat with Iran
• Developing14:13 · 5 JunSmotrich backs Lebanon deal, in apparent shift
• Strong7 hours ago · 12:50 · 15 JunKatz: IDF will stay in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza security zones indefinitely, rejects withdrawal pressure
• Developing08:45 · 7 JunAnalysis: Lebanon Situation Demands Military Decision or Agreement

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