PBS News Hour - Full Show Inside the U.S.–Israel alliance and how it led to war with Iran
Mar 27, 2026
Ronen Bergman, New York Times investigative journalist specializing in Israeli intelligence and Middle East security, joins to dissect how Israel pushed the U.S. toward conflict with Iran. He traces shifts after October 7, Netanyahu’s long campaign to gain U.S. backing, secret strike planning and timing debates. The conversation covers victory scenarios, nuclear stakes, political fallout and why cycles of war may persist.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
October 7 Changed Israel's War Trajectory
- October 7 transformed Israel's strategic posture and made a direct war with Iran plausible.
- Ronen Bergman says without that attack there likely would be no full-scale Israel–Iran war and Netanyahu only seized that opening.
Netanyahu Persuaded Trump In Malaga
- Netanyahu personally lobbied President Trump and secured U.S. blessing for strikes and joint action.
- Bergman recounts Netanyahu's New Year's Eve meeting in Malaga and subsequent coordination with U.S. commanders at CENTCOM.
CENTCOM Endorsement Enabled Joint Operations
- U.S. military leadership at CENTCOM backed detailed joint planning and told the president the plan was viable.
- Admiral Cooper coordinated with Israeli chief Zamir, enabling shared tasking and American operational support.