Iran War 2.5: The Shadow War between War and Peace |
For all the criticism Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump receive these days regarding their handling of Iran, I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes.
Netanyahu finds himself navigating one of the most complex security crises Israel has faced in decades. One wrong move could lead to a massive volley of missiles or a detrimental United Nations Security Council meeting. He must walk a fine line with Washington, which, despite frequent disagreements with Israeli policy, remains Israel’s most important diplomatic and strategic ally. Politically, he has little choice but to govern alongside the far right and Haredi factions. Elections are around the corner, and he needs to show that he is improving Israel’s security outlook.
Then there is Donald Trump, who governs an increasingly inward-looking American public that simply does not care much about Iran. To many Americans, it is a distant country thousands of miles away, while inflation, migration, and economic concerns dominate daily life at home. Many question why America should continue involving itself in conflicts that seem to offer little direct benefit while driving up energy costs and creating new foreign entanglements. Some even blame Trump for joining Netanyahu in striking Iran in the first place. How could a president elected on promises of ending endless wars and putting “America First” become entangled in yet another Middle Eastern conflict? Trump is searching for a way out without appearing weak, while still delivering the foreign-policy success he promised his supporters.
The clash between these two realities became apparent when Trump reportedly intervened to prevent an Israeli strike on Beirut. Reports suggest that........