Netanyahu’s Objectives in the Conflict with Iran

The conflict with Iran is a contentious issue in the U.S. President Donald Trump aims to negotiate a peaceful resolution. In contrast, the Israeli public favors a military victory over Iran and its allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure as he faces a parliamentary election this fall. The outcome could result in his removal from power. This situation creates a divergence between Trump and Netanyahu, who jointly initiated the conflict, over how it should conclude.

Daniel Shapiro, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, provides insights into Netanyahu’s current political strategy. Understanding this calculus is crucial as it plays a significant role in Netanyahu’s approach to the conflict.

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This episode was produced with contributions from Erika Ryan and Alejandra Marquez Janse. Hannah Gluvna managed the audio engineering. Patrick Jarenwattananon handled the editing, and Courtney Dorning serves as the interim executive producer.