'This is an American war. No one went to war to save Israel': Former PM Ehud Olmert on 'punishing Iran' and Trump's hazy end-game

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Mar 6, 2026

Ehud Olmert, former Israeli prime minister known for security and diplomacy, reflects on Iran, U.S. involvement, and peace efforts. He debates whether diplomacy could have averted conflict and worries about a hazy U.S. endgame. He outlines a joint two-state initiative with Nasser al-Kidwa. He also condemns record settler violence in the West Bank and urges public opposition.

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INSIGHT

Iran Deal Withdrawal Fueled Nuclear Escalation

Ehud Olmert argues the 2015 Iran nuclear deal was imperfect but preferable to Trump’s withdrawal that accelerated Iran's enrichment.
He credits Trump’s later strikes as punishment he supports, yet warns negotiations might have succeeded with more flexibility.

INSIGHT

Trump Framed Strikes As American Self Defense

Olmert praises that Trump framed the operation as defending American interests, not fighting for Israel.
He says this distinction matters politically and morally: This is an American war against American enemies.

ADVICE

Engage Iran Quietly To Seek Mutual Understanding

Olmert suggests opening behind-the-scenes dialogue with Iran after hostilities to seek mutual understandings.
He proposes telling Iranian leaders we can't destroy each other and exploring cooperation to make life safer for both sides.

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While the Iranian regime “by and large, needed to be punished” and “did not deserve any mercy,” according to former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, it is possible that “a little bit more flexibility” in the negotiations for a nuclear agreement leading up to the U.S.-Israel assault might have meant they “would have resulted in a different way.”

Olmert made his remarks in a dialogue with Haaretz Global Editor Noa Landau, featured in a plenary at the J Street Convention in Washington D.C. – and coinciding with the initial days of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.

Olmert expressed satisfaction that U.S. President Donald Trump pushed back on remarks from prominent Republicans that Israel pushed the US into the war and “did not pretend to say that he was fighting for us. He said in the most explicit manner: ‘They are American enemies. This is an American war. I'm fighting for America, and I had to do it for America.’ No one saved Israel, or no one got mixed up in a war in order to save Israel.”

In his dialogue with Landau, Olmert also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative he is pursuing with former Palestinian Authority foreign minister Dr. Nasser al-Kidwa to “move forward into entirely new realities on the basis of cooperation and mutual respect and compromise and compassion.” He harshly condemned the ongoing and record-setting settler violence in the West Bank as “obnoxious” and “heartbreaking.”

Speaking out against such actions, he added, "is essential if you want, as a Jew, not to be linked to these actions. You have to speak up.”

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