The Global Story The US and Israel entered the Iran war together. Is Israel now being sidelined?
8 snips
May 1, 2026 
Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent for The Economist and author of a Netanyahu biography, unpacks Netanyahu’s political persona and long ties to Trump. He discusses how U.S. presidents have at times led ceasefire moves while Israeli actions continue in Lebanon. He also examines perceptions of Israel being sidelined in recent U.S.-led talks and the political stakes if Netanyahu loses power.
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Netanyahu Says The Same On And Off Record
- Anshel Pfeffer recounts that Netanyahu speaks the same on and off record and convinces himself first.
- He says politicians sometimes relax off record, but Netanyahu's on‑record and off‑record messages match because he truly believes them.
Trump As Senior Partner In Joint Campaign
- Donald Trump is the senior partner in the US‑Israel war dynamic and ultimately made the decision to commit US forces.
- Anshel Pfeffer points to Trump's unilateral orders, military buildup coordination, and who actually called off strikes as evidence.
Israel Left Out Of Ceasefire Negotiations
- The April ceasefire announcement was perceived in Israel as a US‑Iran deal that excluded Israel from meaningful negotiation.
- Pfeffer notes Israel was merely notified by Trump and fears the eventual deal will reflect US interests more than Israel's.
