Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s Minister of National Security, responded to sharp remarks by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance by defending his position on the recent agreement between Washington and Tehran. Addressing American critics, he said, “Whoever supports us will benefit, and whoever turns their back on us will suffer losses. Therefore, do not threaten us.”
His comments came after J.D. Vance criticized several members of the Israeli cabinet for opposing the recent U.S.-Iran agreement. Vance emphasized that Israel should not assume it can solve all of its security challenges solely through military action and noted that a significant portion of the country’s defense capabilities is supported by the United States.
Ben-Gvir, a staunch critic of the Washington-Tehran agreement, stated in response that Israel would not retreat in the face of external pressure and would continue to uphold its security policies.
He also stressed that confronting existing threats in the region requires a firm and decisive approach.
The verbal exchange comes as the recent agreement between the United States and Iran seeks to reduce regional tensions and prevent the expansion of conflicts. However, the deal has drawn mixed reactions within Israel, with some right-wing officials expressing concern about its potential consequences.
Political analysts view these remarks as a sign of growing differences between Washington and some right-wing factions within Israel over how to manage the Iran issue and broader regional security developments.