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“Israel is not subordinate to the United States”, he said.
After US President Donald Trump announced a new deal with Iran early on Monday, a wave of angry reactions rippled through Israeli political circles.
The most vocal backlash came from a key right-wing leader. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir quickly slammed the agreement, making it clear that his nation would not follow Washington’s lead blindly.
According to comments cited by Middle East Monitor, the minister took a fierce stand for local independence. He insisted that foreign deals would not dictate domestic defense.
Fighting for sovereignty
“Israel is not subordinate to the United States. It is an independent and sovereign state, and any agreement reached by Trump does not bind us. We are committed first and foremost to protecting our citizens and soldiers,” Ben-Gvir said.
He stressed that Tel Aviv has zero obligation to comply with its terms and argued that the deal simply “does not take Israeli security interests into account”.
He also emphasized that Israel had no part in shaping the new arrangement.
The timing of the agreement complicates ongoing military actions. Ben-Gvir firmly rejected any diplomatic framework that might force his country to scale back its current combat goals.
Standing ground
“We cannot accept anything less than the dismantling of Hezbollah, nor can we give up any territory we have taken control of. We also cannot return to a situation in which thousands of armed militants are positioned along the borders of the northern settlements,” he stated.
The minister promised that his government would remain aggressive against any external threats. He vowed to keep using military force whenever necessary.
“We certainly cannot remain silent in the face of any gunfire directed at Israel, and we will continue to take all measures we consider necessary to ensure the security of our citizens,” he added.
Not a stranger to controversy
Itamar Ben-Gvir recently sparked international outrage after sharing footage of himself visiting an Ashdod port detention facility.
The clip showed him taunting bound activists kneeling on the ground.
Waving a massive flag, Ben-Gvir taunted a captive group of activists carrying medical aid and food for Gaza, saying: “Welcome to Israel. We are the masters.”
Then, he cheered as guards shoved a protesting female activist to the ground.
And last month, he celebrated his birthday with a cake decorated with a noose symbolizing a controversial Israeli law enabling execution by hanging for individuals convicted of killing Israeli nationals.
