The Global Story: The US and Israel entered the Iran war together. Is Israel now being sidelined?

The power dynamic between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu has shifted, with Trump increasingly dictating military strategy and ceasefire terms unilaterally. Despite Netanyahu’s claims of a unique, supportive relationship with the American president, he has been sidelined in critical negotiations, such as those regarding the war in Iran. This loss of control undermines Netanyahu’s political standing at home, where he faces a unique crisis: while the Israeli public largely supports the ongoing military campaigns, they express a profound lack of trust in his leadership. As Israel approaches elections, the failure to achieve stated objectives—such as dismantling Iran’s nuclear program or securing a decisive victory—highlights the limitations of Netanyahu’s influence. Anshel Pfeffer, an Israel correspondent for *The Economist* and biographer of Netanyahu, notes that this reliance on Trump’s unpredictable support has become a significant political liability for the Israeli Prime Minister.