The Daily Did Israel Push Trump Into War?
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Mar 5, 2026 
Ronen Bergman, Israeli investigative reporter with on-the-ground insight. Mark Mazzetti, U.S. national security investigator in Washington. They trace intense U.S.-Israel coordination, Netanyahu’s push for strikes, the planning of joint operations, shifts in Trump’s calculus, and how political timing and military advice shaped the decision to hit Iran.
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Netanyahu's Long Campaign To Push The U.S. Toward War
- Benjamin Netanyahu ran a continuous behind-the-scenes pressure campaign pushing multiple U.S. presidents toward war with Iran.
- Mark Mazzetti and Ronen Bergman trace this pattern from George W. Bush through Donald Trump, with Netanyahu intensifying efforts during Trump's term.
Trump Initially Said No Then Joined After Israel Acted
- When Trump first refused Netanyahu in April 2025, Israeli planners continued preparing strikes and launched in June without full U.S. participation.
- After seeing the initial Israeli action and its limits, Trump decided the U.S. had to join to finish what Israel began.
Leaders' Declarations Masked The Limits Of The June Strikes
- Israeli and U.S. assessments diverged on the June strikes' effectiveness; leaders proclaimed sites 'obliterated' though military BDA showed only limited setbacks.
- That disconnect kept Israel pressing for another round because the nuclear and missile threats remained.