Liberman slams emerging Iran deal, accuses Netanyahu of turning Israel into ‘banana republic,’ says he ‘can’t win’

Avigdor Liberman, leader of the hawkish opposition Yisrael Beytenu party, accuses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of turning Israel into a “banana republic,” and says any deal signed with Iran cannot be trusted due to the extremist leadership in Tehran.

“Any agreement from our point of view is a catastrophe, because any agreement leaves the ayatallohs in power,” Liberman tells Channel 12’s Meet the Press program, in reference to efforts by the US to reach a deal with the Iranian regime to bring about a permanent end to the war.

“There is a fanatical leadership there which says its supreme goal is to destroy Israel,” he says. Therefore, he adds, the terms of the deal cannot be trusted.

Liberman also criticizes what he implies is an emerging part of the deal — the unfreezing of Iranian assets worth $110 billion, along with Iran being enabled to freely sell oil and gas.

Asked about US President Donald Trump’s recent attitude toward Netanyahu and his sidelining of Jerusalem in the negotiations, Liberman says Trump had humiliated Israel “with Netanyahu’s blessing.”

He says, “Netanyahu has turned Israel into a banana republic, of course you can say no to the US president,” although he expresses appreciation for Trump, in particular for bringing about the release of the hostages from Gaza in a deal signed last year.

Liberman also condemns Netanyahu for failing to deal with the threat of explosive drones from Lebanon which have caused numerous casualties to IDF troops fighting in the country in recent weeks, as well as more broadly for failing to bring about a decisive victory on any of the fronts Israel has been fighting since the October 7, 2023 attacks.

“Someone who can’t win on any front in two and a half years, will never win,” says Liberman.

“If we do not win in Lebanon explosive drones will end up in Tel Aviv, Caesarea, and Haifa, it wont be long.”