Words Have Lost Meaning in the Trump Era
Ben-Dror Yemini analyzes Israel's strategic situation after the Netanyahu-Trump meeting: Trump declares achievements contrary to reality on the ground, Iran is still standing after weeks of bombings, and it is the US that is begging for a win. Leaks from Netanyahu's office only reinforce the sense that Israel is pushing for continued fighting, while American goals have not been achieved and Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz.
Ben-Dror Yemini analyzes Israel's strategic situation after the Netanyahu-Trump meeting. Trump declares great achievements and victories, but the reality is different: after weeks of bombings in the first round and another 12 days of bombings in the last round, Iran is still standing and it is the US that is begging for some achievement. The leaks from Netanyahu's office, meant to show coordination, only reinforce the sense that Israel is pushing for continued fighting. The goals Trump set to justify the war – removing uranium, eliminating the nuclear project, limiting missile production, stopping aid to terrorist proxies – have not been achieved. Instead, Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, and the negotiations between Oman and Iran deal with transit arrangements, with every American concession hardening the Iranian position. Hours after the announcement of a 'quiet for quiet' deal, an Iranian TV channel broadcast a training video for assassinating Melania Trump. Yemini argues that appeasement toward Iran means Iranian control over Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestinian terrorist organizations – a Middle East ruled by a terrorist state. He concludes that words have lost meaning in the Trump era, and Israel is in trouble.