For decades, Israeli leaders argued that the greatest threat facing the Jewish state was a nuclear Iran. Then came the two wars. For 12 days in June 2025 and between February and May 2026, Israel demonstrated military capabilities that few believed possible. It penetrated Iranian airspace, struck strategic targets, degraded key military assets, and proved beyond doubt that the Islamic Republic was vulnerable. More importantly, it shattered the myth that had dominated Middle Eastern politics for years that Iran was not untouchable.

Yet today, as Washington moves toward a new agreement with Tehran, Israel finds itself watching from the sidelines. The emerging deal is far from ideal from an Israeli perspective. It grants Iran badly needed economic breathing room, international legitimacy, and valuable time to conjure up new strategies to try and reassert regional dominance. It appears increasingly clear that the White House is eager to move on from the Iranian issue and focus on other priorities. President Trump, never known for dwelling on a single issue for too long, seems to have reached the point where Iran is no longer the center of his attention.

For Israel, that reality is uncomfortable. The strategic environment created by the war is slowly being replaced by diplomacy over which Jerusalem has limited influence.

But before blaming Washington, Israeli leaders should ask themselves a difficult question. How did........

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