Has Trump Had Enough of Netanyahu? Israel Defies U.S., Vows to Continue War in Lebanon

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AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now! , democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report . I’m Amy Goodman. We’re broadcasting from Belfast in the North of Ireland.

The G7 summit continues in Évian-les-Bains, in the Alps in France, France, with world leaders praising President Trump’s so-called strong leadership amidst his tentative peace agreement with Iran. But questions linger about what’s actually in the deal, before the United States and Iran are scheduled to sign the MOU , the memorandum of understanding, in Switzerland on Friday. While the text of the U.S.-Iran deal has not been made public, CNN says it’s obtained the full 14-point agreement. The first point calls for a, quote, “immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon,” unquote. Iran has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire in Lebanon at least 84 times in the days after Tehran reached the tentative deal to end the U.S. war. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke from Tehran Tuesday.

ABBAS ARAGHCHI : [translated] The end of the war also includes the end of occupation. Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they have occupied in the war, a full end to the war has not been achieved. And any military attack by the Zionist regime on Lebanon from now on, as well as the continued occupation of Lebanese territories from now on, will, in our view, be considered a violation of the memorandum of understanding.

AMY GOODMAN : Iranian officials warned of a harsh response if Israel continues to escalate, after Israeli forces killed another four people in Lebanon. President Trump has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the Israeli leader “has to be more responsible” in Lebanon.

Following news of the proposed U.S.-Iran deal, far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on social media, quote, “Trump’s agreement does not bind us. Israel is not subject to the United States, and we are an independent and sovereign nation! … My position is clear: We are not partners to this agreement [with Iran] that does not ensure our security, and it does not bind us in any way,” Ben-Gvir said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu has threatened Israeli forces will continue to occupy southern Lebanon in defiance of any ceasefire deal.

For more on Israel’s response, we go to Israel, to Tel Aviv, where we’re joined by Ori Goldberg, Israeli political analyst and scholar, has written extensively on Iran and Israel.

Ori, thanks for joining us again. Can you respond to what Ben-Gvir and Netanyahu are saying, and what this deal, that you — as far as you understand it, is all about between the U.S. and Iran?

ORI GOLDBERG : Well, first of all, I think the most important aspect of the deal is what it’s not about. And it’s not about Israel. In that sense, both Ben-Gvir and Netanyahu are right, but to their own detriment, not as proof of their achievements. Israel was not included in the discussions. Israel asked to see an advanced draft of the MOU and was denied. This is an agreement between the United States and Iran, and it’s based on Trump’s interests and the Islamic Republic’s interests. Israel is not a part of it.

Does that mean that Israel is not bound by it? Ben-Gvir is a dyed-in-the-wool populist. All he wants to do is set things on fire and sit back and enjoy the flames, and stick it to Israel’s Palestinian citizens, as well as Israel’s Palestinian objects, as frequently as possible. Any statements from him are not worth the paper that they’re published on, if they’re still published on paper.

As far as Netanyahu is concerned, he is the leader of the country, but he has not completely detached himself from the United States. He can’t afford to do that, because he knows the truth: Israel can’t do this alone. Israel cannot operate in Lebanon alone, if it has — if it has invoked the ire of the world, and specifically Washington, towards it. The EU is just looking eagerly for an opportunity to sanction Israel, to review the articles of association with Israel, to show Trump that, for once, they’re speaking the same language as he is.

And I don’t think Israel really has one significant ally left, which is, of course, Israel’s doing, because it has consistently and emphatically burned all of its bridges over the past year or so. So, I really do think that the most important aspect of this agreement, other than American-Iranian cooperation, is that Israel is not seen as a regional axis, as a force for stabilization, or simply as an entity that must be recognized, no matter what. Israel is just not in the game.

AMY GOODMAN : So, the assessment by Trump that Netanyahu showed no judgment in ordering a strike on Beirut has been seized upon by Netanyahu’s political rivals, also media commentators, ahead of the election that’s scheduled in Israel for October. What’s the current political landscape in Israel? And as Netanyahu…