According to reports, Ben-Gvir made his position clear in a statement posted on social media platform X. He wrote that former US President Donald Trump's agreement does not bind Israel in any way. Emphasizing Israel's sovereignty, he stated that Israel is not part of the United States and remains an independent and sovereign nation.
Ben-Gvir said Israel's foremost responsibility is to protect its citizens, Israel Defense Forces personnel, and the Jewish people. He added that the country also carries a historical obligation toward Jews who were persecuted and killed during thousands of years of exile, asserting that Israel must ensure security for Jewish communities on its land.
Referring to previous diplomatic arrangements, Ben-Gvir argued that Israel has repeatedly paid a heavy price whenever it yielded to international pressure at the expense of national security. He cited the Oslo Accords, the 2006 Lebanon agreement, and periods of escalation in Gaza as examples where, according to him, concessions led to increased security challenges and bloodshed.
While expressing appreciation for the United States and gratitude toward Donald Trump, Ben-Gvir stressed that Israel is not a "banana republic" and will make its own security decisions. He stated that he regularly conveys these views to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reiterates them during critical historical moments behind closed doors.
The minister further declared that Israel is not a party to any agreement that does not ensure its security and that such an understanding carries no binding force on the country. He insisted that Israel should accept nothing less than the complete elimination of Hezbollah and should not retreat from territories where Israeli forces have gained control and dismantled what he described as terrorist infrastructure.
Ben-Gvir also warned against returning to a situation in which thousands of militants could position themselves around northern Israeli communities. He said Israel must not remain silent in the face of attacks directed at the country and must continue responding to threats without hesitation.
Concluding his remarks, Ben-Gvir emphasized what he described as the enduring resilience of the Jewish people, stating that Israel represents a civilization with a history spanning 3,000 years and that it is prepared to endure a long path in defense of its security and national interests.
The remarks highlight a significant divergence between Israel's security position and the broader diplomatic understanding reportedly reached between the United States and Iran, underscoring the continuing complexity of regional security dynamics in West Asia.
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