Channel 14 Host Defends Netanyahu, Blames Trump on Iran Escalation

Channel 14 presenter Shimon Riklin addressed developments involving Iran and U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday, and directed a message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a post, Riklin said Netanyahu was not responsible for what he called Trump’s failures or for Trump’s eagerness to “fold” and end the war.

Riklin added that Iran is now poised to attack Israel “with great insolence” because Israel struck in Lebanon, and he said Iran’s “arrogance” is rising. He argued that Israel’s response should be decisive and painful for the Iranians.

“Hello Prime Minister Netanyahu, you are not to blame for Trump’s failures and his eagerness to back down and end the war,” Riklin wrote. “But now that Iran is about to attack us with great audacity because we struck in Lebanon and its arrogance is soaring, we expect our response to be crushing and hurt the Iranians very much, with all the power possible. Good luck.”