At a White House press briefing on Thursday, US Vice President JD Vance delivered an unusually direct rebuke to Israeli government critics of President Donald Trump's memorandum of understanding with Iran.
Vance emphasised the unique position the US has as Israel's key supporter: "Donald J Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time, and he happens to be the head of state of the world superpower."
He added that Israel, a country of 9 million people, cannot simply kill its “way out of solving every single national security problem," and said that if he were in the cabinet of the Israeli government, he “might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world."
Vance specifically called out far-right members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet — National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich — for attacking the deal and, in some cases, personally targeting Trump.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon continue
The comments came amid friction over Israel's continued operations in Lebanon and the broader regional de-escalation push.
Israeli bombing and artillery attacks on Nabatieh city and surrounding towns in southern Lebanon killed at least 24 people and wounded several others early on Friday, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Despite the US-Iran deal that includes povisions to end Israeli attacks on Lebanon having taken effect, Israeli strikes after midnight targeted inhabited homes in the towns of Al-Sharqiyah, Harouf and Kfar Sir in Nabatieh district, causing casualties and leaving several people missing, the agency reported.
Israel has waged a large-scale offensive on Lebanon since March 2, killing 3,912 people, injuring 11,873 others and displacing more than 1 million, according to the latest official figures.
Israeli officials attack US-Iran deal
Israeli officials across the political spectrum, including some of Netanyahu's allies, have criticised the US-Iran agreement, saying it did not address their concerns over Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and would tie down Israel's military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
On Friday, Ben-Gvir said that "all of Lebanon must burn" after Israel's military announced the deaths of four soldiers there.
"With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not up for bargaining. All of Lebanon must burn," Ben Gvir said in a statement.
He had earlier written on X: "(US President Donald) Trump's agreement does not bind us."
On Monday, he had stated that the US-Iran agreement "does not ensure Israeli security" and called for Israeli troops to remain in southern Lebanon despite the deal's terms demanding withdrawal.
He wrote, "We must not settle," and emphasised continuing the war on Lebanon.
Smotrich echoed the sentiment, calling the deal "bad for Israel".
"The joint (US-Israeli) campaign achieved many successes in weakening Iran, and those achievements have not been in vain," Smotrich said.
"We will have to continue the campaign to bring down the regime ourselves, using creative means, and ensure that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons."
Smotrich also called for a stronger offensive in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, opposition figures condemned the agreement but criticised Netanyahu's handling of the war and its aftermath.
The deal marked a "dangerous turn for Israel's security", said Naftali Bennett, a former prime minister and a leading contender in Israel's upcoming election.
"In the past 1,000 days, we have discovered time and again the greatness of our nation and the weakness of the government," he said in a statement.
"We have a clear strategic plan to collapse the Iranian regime," said Bennett.
‘Israel’s foreign relations will be wiped out’
On Friday, Israeli opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid criticised Netanyahu’s government, warning that Israel’s international relations were deteriorating following growing tensions with key allies.
In a post on X, Lapid pointed to a series of recent diplomatic disputes involving senior Israeli officials and international partners.
“In the past day, the US Vice President got angry at a press conference over Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, Foreign Minister Sa'ar cut ties with the European Union's foreign minister, and President Trump said Netanyahu is showing irresponsibility in Lebanon,” Lapid wrote.
“If we don't quickly replace this government, Israel's foreign relations will be wiped out,” he added.
The comments reflect mounting diplomatic pressure on Israel as efforts continue to implement the US-Iran agreement and secure a broader regional ceasefire.
While the Trump administration has pursued a deal to reopen key shipping routes, ease sanctions, and advance nuclear talks, Israeli hardliners remain intent on pursuing military escalation and resist efforts to curb them, even at the risk of straining relations with their primary ally.
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