Israeli journalist Gideon Levy has described the Iran-United States peace deal as a major political and strategic setback for Benjamin Netanyahu, arguing that the development undermines what he called the Israeli prime minister’s long-standing ambitions regarding Iran and Lebanon.
Commenting on the reports, Levy said there was “no other way to see it but the defeat of Israel and the personal defeat of Netanyahu,” claiming that confronting Iran had been Netanyahu’s “life project.”
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According to Levy, the reported negotiations have effectively sidelined Israel from the diplomatic process.
“This was his life project, Iran and this life project failed and Israel is totally excluded from the negotiations,” Levy said in an interview to Al Jazeera.
Lebanon Link Could Create New Challenges
Levy argued that one of the most significant aspects of the reported understanding is the linkage between developments in Iran and the situation in Lebanon.
He suggested that any lasting ceasefire could face obstacles if Israeli forces remain deployed in Lebanese territory.
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According to the journalist, the reported agreement places Lebanon at the centre of future regional stability efforts, making implementation more complicated.
“As long as the troops are there, there will be no total ceasefire because there will always be resistance to the Israeli occupation of Lebanon,” he stated.
Trump-Netanyahu Relationship Under Spotlight
Levy also warned that the evolving situation could affect relations between Netanyahu and Donald Trump.
He suggested that if Israel were perceived as obstructing the reported diplomatic process, tensions could emerge between the Israeli leadership and the White House.
“The majority of the people in the Republican Party are much more critical about Israel than Trump himself,” Levy claimed during his remarks.
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He added that if Netanyahu damages his relationship with Trump, Israel could face an unfamiliar diplomatic challenge.
“If Netanyahu succeeds in damaging the relations with Trump himself, then Israel is standing really in a challenge which he never knew before,” Levy said.
Gideon Levy is a veteran columnist associated with Israeli newspaper Haaretz and is widely recognised for his criticism of Israeli security and foreign policies.
