Earthquake in Israel over US-Iran Ceasefire: Netanyahu Faces Sharp Criticism from Opposition

Jerusalem: A temporary two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, announced by President Donald Trump, has triggered a major political storm in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated support for the US decision to suspend strikes on Iran, but clarified that the truce does not extend to ongoing operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid launched a blistering attack on Netanyahu, calling the ceasefire “one of the worst political and diplomatic disasters in Israel’s history.”
In a post on X, Lapid said:
“Israel wasn’t even at the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security. The army did everything that was asked of it, the public showed amazing resilience, but Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and didn’t meet a single one of the goals that he himself set.”
He added:
“It will take us years to repair the political and strategic damage that Netanyahu caused due to arrogance, negligence, and a lack of strategic planning.”
The ceasefire was reportedly mediated with involvement from Pakistan. Netanyahu’s office said Israel backs the pause on strikes against Iran on the condition that Tehran immediately reopens the Strait of Hormuz and halts attacks on the US, Israel, and regional countries.
Critics argue that despite military successes, Israel failed to achieve its declared strategic objectives in the conflict with Iran. The development has intensified domestic political pressure on Netanyahu.