Trump’s Iran deal leaves Netanyahu facing election backlash
Why it matters: The agreement undercuts Netanyahu’s core pitch that his ties to Trump would strengthen Israel’s security.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is paying a political price in Israel after President Donald Trump struck a deal with Iran that many Israelis oppose. Netanyahu had tied his standing to his close relationship with Trump ahead of an election expected this fall, portraying the US president as a key ally on Israeli security. Instead, the agreement has become a liability, because it would leave the Islamic Republic in place rather than force the outcome many of Netanyahu’s supporters wanted. The backlash cuts across much of Israel’s political spectrum and threatens to weaken one of Netanyahu’s central campaign arguments.