Netanyahu bets on U.S. support as Israel-U.S. war on Iran unfolds

US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu address a press conference at the White House.

TEL AVIV, Mar 3 — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is relying on a strong U.S.-Israel partnership to pursue a war against Iran, a gamble that could either solidify ties with Washington or expose them to strain if the conflict drags on.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, has long built his foreign policy on two pillars: an unwavering alliance with the United States and a determined campaign against Iran. By persuading U.S. President Donald Trump to join the strikes, he has achieved a major diplomatic victory. Trump’s support has allowed Israel to target Iranian leaders and military infrastructure in what Netanyahu calls an “existential battle” against Tehran.

But analysts warn that prolonged conflict could test U.S. public opinion. “A large part of the American public will view it as the Israeli tail wagging the American dog and that it is dragging the United States to a war in the Middle East that isn’t theirs,” said Ofer Shelah, a research fellow at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies. He added that Netanyahu is focused on short-term political gains rather than long-term consequences.

Recent years have seen U.S. public support for Israel decline, particularly among Democrats, while some Republicans have also voiced concerns over financial and military backing during Israel’s war on multiple fronts, including the 2023 Gaza conflict. Images from past battles have deepened Israel’s diplomatic isolation.

Netanyahu faces a high-stakes decision: confront what he views as an existential Iranian threat, including its nuclear program and support for anti-Israeli militias, while keeping U.S. backing intact. “The U.S. involvement allows us to do what I have been hoping to do for 40 years — to deliver a crushing blow to the terror regime,” Netanyahu said in a recent statement.

The war has already triggered regional disruption. U.S. forces have suffered casualties, global travel has been disrupted, and oil prices have surged, with potential economic repercussions for American consumers. Questions persist over whether airstrikes alone can topple Iran’s leadership, and what political or military outcome should follow.

Analysts say the stakes for Netanyahu are partly domestic. With elections approaching this fall, the war could shift attention from past security failures and bolster his image as a decisive wartime leader. Aaron David Miller, a former U.S. Middle East adviser, noted, “If Trump feels as if it’s going south, he’ll find a way to de-escalate, and his good friend Benjamin Netanyahu will follow.”

Still, the Israeli leader must balance military ambitions with the risk of losing crucial American support, which experts warn could have far-reaching political and diplomatic consequences. - UNB