Netanyahu Finally Got What He Wanted on Iran by Appealing to an Audience of One

JERUSALEM—The Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel was the greatest security failure of Benjamin Netanyahu’s career. Less than three years later, the Israeli prime minister is pursuing what may become his defining strategic achievement: toppling the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The campaign, undertaken side by side with the Americans, would transform the region’s strategic landscape with Israel as an unrivaled military power. And it would mark a stunning success for Netanyahu, who has long argued that the threat from Tehran isn’t only Israel’s problem but America’s as well.

Central to that success was Netanyahu’s belief that the most important audience for Israel’s case against Iran was the American president.

“He poured his efforts into an audience of one—President Trump,” said Aviv Bushinsky, a former adviser to Netanyahu.

The strategy helped bring the U.S. directly into Israel’s confrontation with Iran. But it also leaves both leaders exposed if the campaign falters.

The risks remain high. The American public largely opposes the campaign, and parts of Trump’s MAGA base accuse Netanyahu of dragging the U.S. into Israel’s war. Iran’s regime could survive and draw the U.S. into a prolonged conflict blamed on Israel. If it collapses, Iran could fracture and destabilize the region.

“If the regime will not fall, it will be hard for Bibi to claim victory,” said Bushinsky, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.

His focus on winning over Trump was a departure from his long-held view that the path to influence in Washington ran through American voters. Netanyahu was a frequent guest on cable news, arguing Israel’s case directly to the public.