Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself trapped between a war-weary White House, rising American opposition to conflict with Iran, and an increasingly militarised Israeli public demanding escalation, write Chris Bambery

Israeli media reports that a phone call took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning between US President Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, which left the latter with his “hair on fire.” The latter asked for Trump’s permission to resume air attacks on Iran. It was not forthcoming.

Reports from the US say that the Israeli Prime Minister was keen on the resumption of strikes to further degrade Iran’s military capabilities and weaken the regime by destroying its critical infrastructure.

Shimon Riklin, an anchor for the right-wing Israeli Channel 14, blurted out apparently confidential plans about a renewed attack on Tehran, which included the location of what he claimed was a uranium storage facility that could be targeted.

But Trump was having none of this, telling Netanyahu that Washington and Tehran were near to signing a letter of intent paving the way for structured negotiations over a defined period. This upset Netanyahu. He will be even more upset by reports that the letter of intent will not cover Iran’s nuclear programme.

Public opinion over Iran diverges deeply between that in America and that in Israel.

A poll earlier this month found that a majority of Israelis believe that ending the war with Iran is “incompatible with Israel’s security interests” and believe that the United States “has greater influence over Israel’s defense decisions” than their own government.

The survey found that 59 percent of Israelis (64% among Jews and 34.5% Arabs) “think an end to the Iran war under the current conditions is only slightly or not at all aligned with Israel’s security interests.”; 52% of Jews on the left, 70% in the centre and 65% on the right hold such views.

When you read this, remember Israel is a militarised society where almost all young adults do military service and then afterwards are liable to call up as reservists. Remember too that Israelis have been told for decades Iran is developing a nuclear bomb in order to destroy Israel in a second holocaust.

A Guardian article made the relevant point after Israel’s security minister filmed himself taunting hostages kidnapped off the international flotilla to Gaza:

“… there is no one who more plainly epitomises today’s Israel than Itamar Ben-Gvir – and it is high time the international community woke up to that reality.”

Ben-Givr represents the far right and West Bank settlers who want a Jewish theocratic state. That is not minority opinion these days. 

In the USA there is majority opposition to the Iran war.

The price of petrol (gas) has increased by 50 percent, despite claims from the administration that the US is self sufficient in energy. Just 16 percent of Americans view the economy in the United States as “good” or “excellent”, a new Gallup poll found on Friday, as inflation continues to rise amid the war on Iran.

In this situation Trump would find it difficult to restart the war with Iran. He is also under intense pressure from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States – with whom he has deep personal and business ties – to end it.

As the USS Nimitz enters the Caribbean to voyage off Cuba, you can see that the sort of military assault he carried out on Venezuela with the kidnapping of President Maduro would provide the opportunity to end the Iran war while there’s a blaze of publicity over Cuba.