What choice are the White House and the ayatollahs putting before Netanyahu – opinion

Netanyahu faces pressure from the US to make concessions in Lebanon and Gaza, while Iran remains the main threat. Maariv military correspondent Avi Ashkenazi reports on an IDF operation on the Ali-Taher ridge against Hezbollah tunnels. Israel divides its fronts: Iran is the main one, Lebanon and Gaza are secondary. The US and Israel diverge in strategy: Washington pushes for diplomacy, while Netanyahu insists on disarming Hamas before withdrawing troops.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under intense pressure from Washington to make diplomatic concessions in Lebanon and Gaza, while Iran remains the main source of tension. Maariv military correspondent Avi Ashkenazi notes that the country is 'balancing on the edge.' In recent weeks, the IDF has been conducting an operation on the Ali-Taher ridge, clearing the area and eliminating Hezbollah's underground tunnels. Despite the ceasefire regime, the group is trying to evacuate its fighters, leading to local incidents, including a drone launch on Friday evening. The Israeli leadership divides threats: Iran is the main arena, Lebanon and Gaza are secondary fronts, Syria and Judea and Samaria are additional zones. On secondary fronts, Israel demands full disarmament of the groups and retains the right to retaliate. The US and Israel agree on the Iranian threat but diverge in strategy on secondary fronts: Washington pushes for a diplomatic settlement, which contradicts the interests of the Israeli leadership. Netanyahu has publicly stated that the IDF will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is disarmed, but in practice he must consider the position of American partners, which creates pauses that Hamas uses to rebuild its strength. The main question is whether Israel can withstand diplomatic pressure and what concessions it will make to preserve the alliance.