President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have a publicly close relationship, but at The Spectator, Yossi Melman suggests that the two leaders and their countries may have a growing rift. Melman writes of Trump’s ire after the Israelis attacked Iran’s energy infrastructure without American knowledge:
It appears that Israel’s political and military leadership believe that Trump was angry, but also that his standing in the United States is weakening, and that he was playing a double game – and using Israel as part of his good cop, bad cop routine. It’s hard not to conclude that Israel is correct in this assessment.
It’s a position which suits Netanyahu, who has become a kind of Trump-whisperer in chief. No one is happier to play the role of the whip striking Iran. It was once said mockingly that Israel is America’s largest aircraft carrier. The current war backs up that cynical image – at least as long as it serves Netanyahu’s goals.
Trump also threatened to strike Iran’s energy infrastructure and bomb the country’s nuclear reactors, but said that due to the negotiations he is conducting, he has put the decision on hold until Saturday.
This is where America and Israel’s interests diverge. As has been the case over the past two and a half years, since October 7, Netanyahu is promising Israelis victory in this war. He is building Israel’s entire future on regime change in Iran – a regime which, for now, shows no signs of collapse. On the other hand, while he still supports the Israeli prime minister, Trump now appears to be seeking an end to the conflict.
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