The DSR Network NTK: How Much Worse Can Trump’s Iran War Get? Don’t Ask.
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Mar 22, 2026 
Alon Pinkas, former Israeli diplomat turned Tel Aviv-based commentator, offers on-the-ground perspective about Israel and regional security. He describes life under sirens and why the Iran war may drag on. He critiques Netanyahu’s long push for confrontation and explores risks of wider regional escalation and shifting global alliances.
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Why Israeli Support For War Is Strong But Precarious
- Israeli public support for the war is high but fragile, driven by fear of an existential Iranian threat, limited material damage so far, and pride in the IDF's performance.
- Alon Pinkas cites an INSS poll showing ~78% support and warns perceptions could shift if casualties or infrastructure damage rise.
Netanyahu's Long Campaign Made War Politically Possible
- Netanyahu's narrative framed Iran as an imminent existential threat over many years, conditioning Israelis to accept drastic action now.
- Pinkas contrasts Netanyahu's rhetoric with the factual state: Iran still retains enriched uranium and missile capability weeks into the conflict.
Trump's Political Calculus Makes U.S. Response Unpredictable
- Trump is more sensitive to domestic economic pain from higher fuel and food prices and to upcoming midterms than Netanyahu, who is focused on strategic aims.
- Pinkas argues Trump might cut losses for electoral reasons, but his erratic style makes outcomes unpredictable.