Israeli right-wing figures have publicly blasted former White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and Trump-era envoy Steve Witkoff for their roles in a proposed U.S.-Iran peace deal. The broadsides lay bare the deep fractures inside Israeli politics over how to approach Tehran—and could shape the course of future diplomacy in the Middle East.
Who's behind the criticism
The critics come from Israel's right flank, a camp that has long viewed any accommodation with Iran as a strategic threat. They argue that Kushner and Witkoff, both architects of the Abraham Accords, are now pushing a framework that would legitimize the Islamic Republic without extracting real concessions on its nuclear program or support for proxies. The criticism isn't just about policy—it reflects a personal distrust of the two Americans among some of Israel's most hawkish voices.
A mirror of Israeli political divisions
The anger over the deal highlights a deeper tension in Israeli politics. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has publicly supported the U.S. effort, but elements of his own coalition are breaking ranks. The split mirrors what analysts say is a long-standing ideological rift: do you engage Iran in a bid to reduce regional tensions, or do you keep maximum pressure on until the regime collapses? The right-wing critics have made it clear they see no middle ground.
What the pushback means for regional stability
If the domestic Israeli criticism gains traction, it could scramble the diplomatic timeline. The U.S. has been quietly courting both Iran and its Gulf allies, but a deal that leaves Israel's right wing hostile risks creating a new front of opposition inside Washington. Lawmakers in the U.S. Congress who are close to Israeli hawks could pile on, making ratification harder. On the ground, any perception that Israel is divided on the issue can embolden Iran's negotiators to demand more, while unsettling Sunni Arab states that look to Jerusalem for a coordinated stance.
The next few weeks will test whether Kushner and Witkoff can sell their plan in the face of such vocal opposition—and whether Israel's government can keep its coalition united long enough to see it through.
