The deal being discussed between the US and Iran fails to achieve any of Israel's goals for the war, Israel's opposition leader Yair Lapid declared on Monday, as he accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to influence a better agreement.
Lapid, who is part of an alliance attempting to unseat Netanyahu in this year's elections, said the details of the emerging deal are "disturbing."
"The deal is bad for Israel, bad for the region, bad for the citizens of Iran," Lapid told reporters.
Israel and the US, both nuclear-armed nations, launched the war on Iran on 28 February.
According to regional officials, under the current deal being discussed , Iran would give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz in exchange for ending a US blockade of Iranian ports and the lifting of sanctions against Iran.
Key details on Iran's nuclear program would then be negotiated during 60 days. It is unclear if the deal will address Iran's missiles or support for regional militant groups. Lapid expressed gratitude to Trump for launching the war with Israel, but criticised Netanyahu for allowing Washington to negotiate a potential deal with little coordination with Israel.
"The Israeli government is at an all-time low in its ability to influence decisions in Washington," he said, noting that Trump said last week: "Netanyahu will do whatever I want him to do ."
Lapid, head of the supposed centrist "Yesh Atid" party, briefly served as prime minister in 2022 under a rotation agreement with Naftali Bennett , leader of a small conservative party. Their coalition government ended 12 years of Netanyahu's rule.
They have once again merged their parties into a single faction headed by Bennett as they attempt to unseat Netanyahu in elections to be held by the end of October.
Lapid has served as Israel’s opposition leader since Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022, while Bennett took a break from politics. Their alliance aims to unite a fragmented opposition, largely united by their shared hostility toward Netanyahu.
Lapid opposes a two-state solution, or any form of Palestinian self-determination, like most Israeli politicians.
"There will be no two-state solution in the coming years, because Israelis now understand this will become just another failing terrorist state on our borders," said Lapid, adding that the Palestinian Authority cannot effectively prevent attacks against Israel.
Lapid also ruled out cooperation with Arab parties to build a coalition to unseat Netanyahu.
Opinion polls indicate that Bennett and Lapid might not be able to form a governing majority coalition without the support of some Arab lawmakers, as they did in their previous government. They broke a longstanding taboo in 2021 when they invited Mansour Abbas , leader of a small Arab faction, into Israel’s governing coalition for the first and only time in Israel's history.