Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday called the emerging agreement with Iran 'bad for Israel and the entire free world,' vowing that Israel would have to continue the campaign to topple the Iranian regime by 'creative ways' and ensure Iran never obtains nuclear weapons. His remarks escalate his opposition to the US-led framework.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich escalated his opposition to the emerging US-Iran nuclear framework on Monday, vowing in a statement circulated at 11:55 Jerusalem that Israel would be forced to continue the campaign to topple the Iranian regime 'by creative ways' on its own, and to ensure Iran never obtains nuclear weapons. The language marks a sharp step beyond the minister's earlier statements today.
As The Zioneer reported at 10:41 and 10:43 Jerusalem, Smotrich initially attacked the same deal as 'bad for Israel' while backing Prime Minister Netanyahu amid coalition pressure and stressing the need for full IDF operational freedom in Lebanon. By 10:51 Jerusalem, reports carried a similar vow — initially described by the source Amichai Stein (i24NEWS) as referring to a 'Gaza deal' and toppling the 'Hamas regime' — with no confirmation whether the source corrected or the minister issued a separate statement about Iran. The minister's office has not yet released an official press release. A single source, the source 'Rak Neto' (Only News), is the sole source for the latest statement.
Smotrich's remarks come as the US and Iran are reportedly close to finalizing a nuclear framework, a track the finance minister has long opposed. As The Zioneer reported on June 8, he previously called for a massive military response in Lebanon rather than tit-for-tat exchanges with Iran. On June 13, Reserve Col. Prof. Gabi Siboni told Channel 14 that any agreement with Iran is detrimental to Israel as long as the current regime remains in power — a position that Smotrich's latest statement echoes but sharpens into a vow of action.
The meaning of 'creative ways' was not elaborated in the brief statement. It remains unclear whether the formulation originates with Smotrich's office or the single-source the source. No official confirmation has been received from the Finance Ministry or the Prime Minister's Office.
5 developments
- DevelopingSmotrich calls for massive Lebanon response instead of tit-for-tat with Iran
- DevelopingSmotrich backs Lebanon deal, in apparent shift
- StrongKatz: IDF will stay in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza security zones indefinitely, rejects withdrawal pressure
- DevelopingAnalysis: Lebanon Situation Demands Military Decision or Agreement
Source and signal
- Internal intake