From the Liveblog of
Monday, June 15, 2026
Eisenkot, Smotrich join criticism of US-Iran deal
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAriela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich join a growing chorus of criticism across the opposition and coalition over the US-Iran deal.
Eisenkot, who is among the frontrunners to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in upcoming elections, blasts what he calls “the dismal outcome of a failed government” and says that there is “a vast gulf” between Netanyahu’s “empty promises of total victory” and the emerging deal.
He also criticizes Netanyahu for failing to face the public directly, noting that Israelis are once again learning about a major agreement affecting their security from foreign leaders rather than from their own government.
Smotrich similarly condemns the agreement, calling it “bad for Israel and for the entire free world. Period.”
He says that Israel must continue efforts to topple the Iranian regime and ensure Tehran never obtains nuclear weapons, but also defends the government, declaring that none of those running to replace Netanyahu could “withstand even ten percent of the pressure currently being exerted on the Israeli government, and especially on its leader.”
The Times of Israel Community.