President Donald Trump’s reported pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to limit Israel’s operations against Hezbollah reflects a familiar disagreement between Washington and Jerusalem: The US often seeks to end regional wars quickly, while Israel wants to eliminate threats before they can rebuild.c
Washington Free Beacon columnist Mike Watson argues that this tension does not make Israel a strategic burden. Rather, Israel’s readiness to strike its enemies decisively is precisely what makes it such a valuable US ally.
Israel and the US severely damaged Iran’s leadership and military capabilities, but their immediate priorities have since diverged. Trump wants to stabilize energy markets and secure Iran’s enriched uranium through negotiations without returning to a major war. Netanyahu, meanwhile, must stop Hezbollah’s continued drone and long-range attacks against northern Israel.
Iran is attempting to use the fighting in Lebanon as leverage in its negotiations with Washington, demanding that Israel be restrained before talks can advance. However, there is little reason to believe that stopping Israel will persuade Tehran or Hezbollah to make genuine concessions.