Not Iran and not Russia: The senior American commentator identifies the greatest threat to Israel and the US
Thomas Friedman warns in a New York Times column that the main threat to Israel and the US is not external, but internal, led by Netanyahu and Trump. He argues that the upcoming elections will determine the future of democracy in both countries, and criticizes Netanyahu's alliance with the far right, Trump's policies dismantling international alliances, and his ties with Putin.
In a scathing opinion column published in the New York Times, senior commentator Thomas Friedman warns that the main threat to Israel and the United States does not come from external enemies like Iran or Russia, but from internal self-destructive processes led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump. Friedman argues that the upcoming elections in October and November 2026 will determine the future of democracy in both countries. He sharply criticizes the Israeli government, claiming that Netanyahu's alliance with far-right elements will lead to the elimination of judicial independence, annexation, and international isolation. Friedman quotes former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, who compared the ideology of extreme settlers to an inverted 'Mein Kampf.' He also presents data on brain drain from Israel and cites economist Dan Ben-David from the Shoresh Institute, who warns of the demographic consequences of growth in the Haredi population without providing basic education. Friedman expresses hope that the opposition, led by former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, will succeed in halting the trend. Furthermore, Friedman attacks Trump, who he says is working to dismantle international alliances and institutions like NATO and the World Health Organization, and condemns his close ties with Putin. He relies on a report by his colleague Eric Lipton, according to which Trump reaped huge profits from the crypto industry during his tenure. Friedman concludes with a warning against a Republican victory that would give Trump a tailwind to continue destroying governing institutions, while the US is mired in a war against Iran. The conclusion: both democracies face a fateful test, and the real danger lurks from within.