Israel Excluded from Iran Peace Deal Negotiations as Trump Publicly Criticizes Netanyahu

The Israeli government was not shown a draft memorandum of understanding intended to end the war with Iran, according to an Israeli government official, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the United States and Israel. Despite President Donald Trump's claim that he had provided Israel with a copy of the MOU, the Israeli official confirmed on Wednesday that the country had not received the draft document ahead of a scheduled signing between Iran and the U.S. on Friday.

The exclusion of Israel from negotiations has become a critical political liability for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces career-defining elections before the end of October. The situation has been further complicated by Trump's increasingly public criticism of Netanyahu, whom he described as "crazy" during remarks at the G7 summit in France. Trump specifically took issue with Netanyahu's military operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah, stating that Israeli attacks had been disproportionate and killed too many civilians. More than 1 million people have been displaced from Lebanon and over 3,500 have died in the ongoing conflict.

The criticism reflects deeper strategic disagreements over the Iran deal framework. Trump appeared concerned that Netanyahu's continued military campaigns in Lebanon were derailing diplomatic negotiations with Iran. Israel went to war against Iran in late February 2026 after weeks of Iranian counterattacks involving ballistic missiles and drones. However, Israeli public opinion and political opponents have criticized Netanyahu for the opposite reason—arguing the deal does not sufficiently constrain Iran's nuclear program and military capabilities, which many Israelis view as an existential threat.

Polling data underscores the domestic political crisis. A survey by the Israeli Democracy Institute found that 57.5 percent of Israelis believe the current peace framework would be incompatible with Israel's security interests. Opposition figures have intensified their attacks on Netanyahu's handling of both the Iran conflict and relations with Trump. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak stated that Netanyahu's "hubris and blindness" had left "Iran stronger" and "Israel weaker," while Yair Lapid, expected to challenge Netanyahu in elections, called the agreement "one of the most shocking failures in Israel's foreign and security policy."

Netanyahu has defended the necessity of the war with Iran, arguing that Israel eliminated an immediate existential threat. In a Monday speech, he claimed the military campaign saved Israel from annihilation. However, he acknowledged he had not yet reviewed the draft agreement. When pressed on his deteriorating relationship with Trump, Netanyahu downplayed the tension, stating that the two leaders "many times see eye to eye" while acknowledging "cases in which we see less eye to eye."