Minister Yuval Steinitz
Minister Yuval SteinitzFlash 90

Minister of Intelligence and International Relations Yuval Steinitz (Likud) and MK Reuven Rivlin (Likud) were among the first Israeli leaders to react Sunday to news that several Western powers had reached a deal with Iran regarding its nuclear program.

Both expressed deep concern over the agreement.

“The changes that were made at the last minute are far from reassuring,” Steinitz said. “The agreement was, and remains, a terrible deal that will make it harder to reach a suitable long-term solution.”

“Israel cannot join the international celebration, which is based on Iran’s misleading and on self-delusion,” he continued.

“Despite the disappointment,” he added, “we will continue to stick to our position and to work with our friends in the United States and around the world toward a comprehensive solution.”

Rivlin noted that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s remarks, according to which the deal made Israel safer, did not help. “The American attempt to reassure us just makes it more worrying,” he said.

“This deal undoubtedly reflects differences between us and the United States and the West, differences that are not merely tactical, but also strategic,” he said.

“This is a dangerous agreement that prevents war only for the time being, but does not take the option off the table,” Rivlin concluded.

MK Eli Yishai (Shas), head of the Knesset's Committee for Home Front Preparedness, said the deal "proves yet again that we can trust nobody but our Father in Heaven and ourselves."