Netanyahu’s Trump Bond Becomes His Biggest Liability After Iran Deal

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had avoided speaking to the Israeli media since March, choosing instead to grant interviews mainly to foreign outlets, especially in the United States, while Israel faced war with Iran and Hezbollah, missile fire, deaths, injuries and widespread damage. He finally held a press conference on Tuesday evening, driven largely by the poor outcome of the agreement with Iran and the growing sense in Israel, including among his own supporters, that the deal was bad for Israel.

The article says senior Israeli officials view the agreement as dangerous and as having achieved none of its stated goals, including removing the nuclear threat, ending the ballistic missile threat, creating conditions for regime change, or addressing Iran’s support for proxies such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. It also describes a sharp reversal in Netanyahu’s once-close relationship with Donald Trump, saying Israel was not briefed on the deal and that Trump issued harsh private and public pressure, including an absolute ban on continued attacks in Beirut’s Dahieh district and a firm demand to stop firing.

The article notes that four months from now it will be three years since the war began on October 7, and says the fighting across seven fronts has left more than 2,100 dead, tens of thousands wounded, and many communities still struggling. In Kiryat Shmona, it says, the population has fallen from 26,000 before the war to about 9,000, with frightened children and damaged businesses.

Netanyahu’s press conference drew heavy criticism from the opposition, public, and even coalition ministers such as Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben Gvir and Orit Strock. The writer argues he appeared detached from reality and offered slogans rather than answers, while Trump took credit for Iran not having nuclear weapons and for the return of hostages from Hamas tunnels, saying, “If it was up to Netanyahu they would be fighting for years in Gaza.” Netanyahu also said he would run and win the next election, due in four months, but the article says his political prospects are uncertain.