TEL AVIV, Israel: Reactions in Israel to the Memorandum of Understanding reached by President Donald Trump and Iran on Sunday have been a mix of wait-and-see-the details and outright criticism.Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed on Sunday that Tehran and Washington had finalized a memorandum of understanding ending the war after months of negotiations.In a statement, the council said all military operations across multiple fronts, including in Lebanon, would cease "immediately and permanently."Talks on a comprehensive final agreement will reportedly begin only after both sides have implemented their obligations under the framework and are expected to continue for up to 60 days.TRUMP ANNOUNCES PEACE DEAL WITH IRAN, DECLARES STRAIT OF HORMUZ WILL REOPEN: 'LET THE OIL FLOW!'President Donald Trump listens to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he addresses the Knesset in Jerusalem on Oct.
13, 2025.(Saul Loeb/AFP)While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to comment, on Monday, Defense Minister Israel Katz, held back from directly criticizing the deal but said that the IDF would not withdraw from southern Lebanon, warning that if Iran attacks Israel in response to the fighting against Hezbollah, "we will strike it with full force."He said, "The IDF will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, without any time limit, to protect the border and Israeli communities against jihadist elements."Katz described the security zones as "among the IDF’s greatest achievements" in the multi-front war since the Hamas-led Oct.
7, 2023 massacre, adding that Israel therefore opposes an IDF withdrawal from Lebanon despite all the pressures that will still come.Katz said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had conveyed these positions to U.S.President Donald Trump and other senior American officials, including U.S.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth."We will not compromise on Israel’s security interests and the protection of our citizen...