Scott Horton Show - Just the Interviews 3/12/26 Shaiel Ben-Ephraim: A Look Inside Israel During the War with Iran
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Mar 14, 2026 Shaiel Ben-Ephraim, Israeli geopolitical analyst and former IDF/government insider, explains how Israelis are thinking about the war with Iran. He discusses diverging goals inside Israel, Netanyahu’s aims versus the military’s, Iranian strike effects on morale and warning systems, plans for southern Lebanon and West Bank policies, and regional post‑war geopolitics.
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Israel's Real Strategic Goal Is Regional Weakening
- Israel's current campaigns aim not to free Iranians or merely defend against missiles but to permanently weaken or collapse regional states to eliminate threats.
- Shaiel Ben-Ephraim says Netanyahu, the security forces, and messianic settlers each push different versions of a long-term strategy to secure Israeli dominance.
Political Survival Versus Military Control Divide Israeli Strategy
- Netanyahu seeks a prolonged or eternal conflict to consolidate power, while the IDF prefers weakened but controllable neighboring states.
- Ben-Ephraim explains this split drives contradictory policies and persistent escalation despite different endgames.
Why Trump Has Backed Aggressive Moves On Iran
- Multiple factors explain Trump's cooperation: possible kompromat, flattery and manipulation, psychological addiction to military success, and political calculation for elections.
- Ben-Ephraim highlights Netanyahu's skill at manipulating leaders and Trump's pliability.
