With the US military’s involvement in the current conflict between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran coming to a close, the Israeli government under embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking support for what it calls the “Lebanonization” strategy of Iran.

After US President Donald Trump struck three Iranian nuclear weapons development sites with B-2 Spirit long-range stealth bombers, the American president orchestrated a ceasefire between the warring parties and indicated his support for diplomacy over further warfare. It is clear that neither side was happy with this arrangement, but both agreed to it in the hope of gaining an advantage once the conflict resumes.

Netanyahu’s government believes that the Israeli and American alliance has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to break the odious Islamist regime of Iran. Netayahu seeks to maintain an air corridor linking Israeli airspace to Iranian airspace via Syria and Iraq. Jerusalem, in turn, seeks to have the right to re-strike Iranian targets at will. 

This, of course, would require greater levels of military aid and political support from Washington—at a time when there are already concerns about how much more Washington can give to any of its allies, notably those in the Middle East.

Israeli and American Strategic Interests Are Not Aligned

One way or the other, Netanyahu’s government appears poised to execute its costly “Lebanonization” strategy for Iranian airspace. Yet it will be........

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