Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made a high-stakes gamble by leveraging US President Donald Trump’s involvement in the ongoing war with Iran. The attack on Iranian forces marks a turning point in their unlikely alliance, which has seen Trump deliver unprecedented policy shifts in Israel’s favor despite Netanyahu making him swallow some difficult pills.
Netanyahu hopes to harness Trump’s popularity to revive his sagging electoral chances, but this strategy comes with significant risks. With polls showing his coalition short of the required majority, Netanyahu will try to capitalize on a surge of public support for the Iran operation by calling an early election as soon as possible.
Trump and Netanyahu are an odd couple, with some experts describing Trump’s role in shaping Israel’s policies as one of skillful manipulation. However, from Israel’s perspective, the relationship has been more complex, with Trump making concessions that many thought were non-negotiable, including a pause on Israeli bombing operations while US jets were airborne.
The war in Iran has already reshaped the region, and its outcome is far from certain. Netanyahu is betting his political career on this gamble, as he faces traumatized Israeli voters who are increasingly angry with him over past security failures. With congressional midterms looming, Trump’s base may be strained by the involvement in a foreign conflict that goes against their views on foreign entanglements.
Netanyahu’s determination to initiate hostilities led Trump to believe an Israeli attack was inevitable, and he decided to involve US military power to ensure its success. The question remains whether this partnership will prove beneficial for Netanyahu or cost him his political career once again.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/03/08/trump-netanyahu-israel-iran-war