The Israeli Ultra-Hawks Who Feel Betrayed by Trump’s Iran Deal

On Friday, the United States and Iran plan to sign a memorandum of understanding that would, for the time being, end hostilities between the two countries. In exchange for Iran opening the Strait of Hormuz—which was open before the war began—and agreeing not to develop nuclear weapons, the United States will end its blockade of Iran, end sanctions on the country, and help facilitate its reconstruction. The deal, which represents a remarkable climbdown by the Trump Administration, has been harshly criticized by both American hawks and Israelis across the political spectrum, who view it as more favorable to Iran than the 2src15 nuclear deal that was negotiated by former President Barack Obama, and which was later torn up by Trump, during his first term. The current deal also presents real difficulties for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who encouraged Trump to start the conflict, and was planning to flaunt his closeness to Trump in his reëlection campaign later this year. (One poll taken after the announcement of a deal found Trump’s approval rating in Israel falling twenty points, to thirty-eight per cent.)

I recently spoke by phone with Shimon Riklin, one of the anchors of Israel’s Channel 14, which is famous for its right-wing slant and strong pro-Netanyahu line. Riklin was long known for founding Israeli settlements; he eventually became a close ally of Netanyahu’s. He has condemned Trump’s Iran deal, calling it “total surrender.” During our conversation, which has been edited for length and clarity, we discussed why he believes that Trump betrayed Israel, his contention that Iran is the modern world’s Nazi Germany, and whether the war should ever have been undertaken in the first place.

How are you feeling about the emerging deal between the United States and Iran?

Totally shook. Totally shook. Unacceptable. Amazing. Nobody understands this. Listen, we have a couple of reasons that Israel and America waged war against Iran. One was to prevent nuclear weapons. One was to prevent the development of missiles that could hit, in the future, not only Israel but also Europe and the United States. What Iran tried to do is encircle Israel with fire, with enemies. So there were a lot of reasons.

But why did we go into the war if this is what Trump was going to give Iran?

It’s a good question.

Listen, we are really grateful, in Israel, for what Donald Trump did for Israel. He gives us a lot of weapons. He gives us space to fight, in terms of the political resistance we face in the world. And then he joins us in understanding the importance of the war against Iran. This is modern-day Germany, Nazi Germany. They are crazy! For us, Iran is Nazi Germany. They want to rule the world. They say, If you don’t become Muslim, we will kill you!

After October 7th, we tried to gain back deterrence, so that our enemies around us were afraid. We wanted to break the Axis of Resistance around us. Now what is Trump doing? Everything, or anything that Iran says, he obeys. Trump said to stop the war in Lebanon. Today, an Israeli soldier was killed by Hezbollah. They are allowed to fire on us, but we are not allowed to fire on them.

Some people might say that Trump and Netanyahu started this war. They bombed Iran, they failed to dislodge the Iranian regime, and Iran decided to hold the entire global economy hostage, which has led to horrific effects all across the world. And so they had to make a deal.

Aren’t you supposed to have planned for something like this? If this is what you are going to do, don’t start the war. Don’t do it.

I think a lot of Americans would agree with that.

But please listen a little bit. It’s even worse. There is—not was, is—a very good plan to replace the regime. Not one hundred per cent. Not eighty per cent. But most likely.

So, like, ninety per cent, maybe?

Let’s be honest. No one can say if it is seventy per cent or eighty per cent.

O.K., but it’s in that ballpark?

I can tell you that I speak with people of a very high rank in Israeli defense, and they speak of a seventy- or eighty-per-cent chance to replace the Iranian regime if Trump allows the militias from Iraq to invade Iran.

These are Kurdish militias you’re talking about?

Not only. Israel can provide them with weapons. This was part of the plan. And then, to our amazement, Trump said the Kurds didn’t want to fight. But, really, Trump is the one who forbade them from fighting, because Erdoğan put pressure on him not to do it. Israel had a brilliant plan and spent a lot of money, and shocked the Iranians in the beginning of the war. But you prevented the militias from acting, and now you ask why the regime didn’t fall. Because you didn’t give us the chance. In Gaza. In Lebanon. In Syria. In Iran. Everything we wanted to do, you prevented us from doing it. If you go to war, and you define the goal of the war, do it. If not, don’t do it. It’s not only that you don’t do it, but you falsely blame the Kurds and the Israelis. And you give in to all the demands of Iran. And they won’t stop. Tomorrow, they might say, If you don’t close the Embassy in Jerusalem, we will close the strait. Then what do you do?

You said that Israel had this brilliant plan. What did you make of the reports that Netanyahu told Trump that Iran would not close the strait?

This is absolutely nonsense. What? What? Not only is that nonsense, but Israel took this into account. I speak with high-ranking people in the military and politics. We are a small country, and we are very careful. Everyone in Israel knew this was a possibility. If you want to win in Iran, it isn’t enough to stop the nuclear program or missiles. You need to change the regime. And Israel brought planning to do it. But we missed the opportunity. The Iranians were in shock at the beginning. Israeli intelligence knew everything.

They did close the strait and hold the global economy hostage, though, right?

Right, but, but, O.K. O.K. So, it’s your money or your life? Let’s make peace with Hitler, because the goal of the world is money? Even in Israel, we thought it would be a hundred and fifty dollars per barrel of gas. It isn’t. But it’s not good. But, listen, it’s not all about money. It’s not all about money in our life. Money is very important. It enables a good life. Wonderful.