Opposition leaders in Israeli Knesset have sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of failing to secure victory over Iran and Hezbollah ahead of a potential Iran-US agreement.
Speaking ahead of his Yesh Atid party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid described the emerging Iran–US understanding as a “disaster,” arguing that “the regime in Iran did not fall, it grew stronger,” and warning that the draft does not address Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities.
He said it was “absurd” that such an agreement was being shaped without Israeli participation, adding that “time and again the Netanyahu government sets goals and fails to achieve them.” Lapid further accused the government of systemic failure, saying Netanyahu is “surrounded by the least suitable people to run a country,” and insisted that “Israel is a sovereign state not an American protectorate,” urging the Israeli prime minister to tell US President Donald Trump that “Israel reserves its freedom of action in matters affecting its security.”
“Only a Matter of Time before Hezbollah Drones Reach Central Israel”
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman, speaking separately, warned that it is “only a matter of time” before Hezbollah drones reach central cities in ‘Israel’, including Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and Tel Aviv, and called for what he described as a decisive victory against the Lebanese resistance group. He claimed that Israeli troops in Lebanon are operating under severe constraints.
Israeli media: Three explosive drones exploded in the North during few minutes, a short time ago pic.twitter.com/0V2aXBAqDv
— Al-Manar English (@manarenglish) May 25, 2026
Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz, also a former defense minister, called for a more aggressive posture toward Hezbollah, saying that “the best defense against Hezbollah is an attack.” He warned that if drone attacks on ‘Israel’ continue, “no plane should take off in Beirut,” referring to the airport in Lebanon’s capital.
Gantz further said that when Israelis in the north are forced to celebrate the Shavuot holiday in shelters, “buildings should fall in the Dahiyeh,” referring to Beirut’s southern suburb. He argued that normalization with Lebanon “would only be possible if Hezbollah’s regional role is curbed,” warning against what he described as the group becoming “the protector of Lebanon under Iranian influence.”
Turning to Iran, Gantz said ‘Israel’ should continue the war until Tehran’s nuclear and missile capabilities are dismantled, including the removal or destruction of uranium stockpiles, the halt of long-range missile production, and the cessation of funding to regional proxies. He added that at a minimum, “Israel must ensure it retains complete freedom of action under any future agreement.”
Source: Israeli media (edited by Al-Manar)