While the Iranian regime “by and large, needed to be punished” and “did not deserve any mercy,” according to former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, it is possible that “a little bit more flexibility” in the negotiations for a nuclear agreement leading up to the U.S.-Israel assault might have meant they “would have resulted in a different way.” 

Olmert made his remarks in a dialogue with Haaretz Global Editor Noa Landau, featured in a plenary at the J Street Convention in Washington D.C. – and coinciding with the initial days of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. 

Olmert expressed satisfaction that U.S. President Donald Trump pushed back on remarks from prominent Republicans that Israel pushed the US into the war and “did not pretend to say that he was fighting for us. He said in the most explicit manner: ‘They are American enemies. This is an American war. I'm fighting for America, and I had to do it for America.’ No one saved Israel, or no one got mixed up in a war in order to save Israel.”

In his dialogue with Landau, Olmert also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative he is pursuing with former Palestinian Authority foreign minister Dr. Nasser al-Kidwa to “move forward into entirely new realities on the basis of cooperation and mutual respect and compromise and compassion.” He harshly condemned the ongoing and record-setting settler violence in the West Bank as “obnoxious” and “heartbreaking.” 

Speaking out against such actions, he added, "is essential if you want, as a Jew, not to be linked to these actions. You have to speak up.”

Read more:

'I Might Have Forced Israel's Hand': Trump Denies Israel Dragged U.S. Into Iran War After Rubio Comments Draw Ire

As Israeli Defense Officials Push for a Long Offensive, Trump Still Has Doubts

'Both Sides Are Tired of War': Former PM Ehud Olmert Makes Two-state Proposal With Former Palestinian Minister

Police Report Average of Four Daily Incidents of West Bank Settler Violence in Early 2026

The latest reporting on West Bank settler violence

While the Iranian regime &ldquo;by and large, needed to be punished&rdquo; and &ldquo;did not deserve any mercy,&rdquo; according to former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, it is possible that &ldquo;a little bit more flexibility&rdquo; in the negotiations for a nuclear agreement leading up to the U.S.-Israel assault might have meant they &ldquo;would have resulted in a different way.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Olmert made his remarks in a dialogue with Haaretz Global Editor Noa Landau, featured in a plenary at the J Street Convention in Washington D.C. &ndash; and coinciding with the initial days of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.&nbsp;
Olmert expressed satisfaction that U.S. President Donald Trump pushed back on remarks from prominent Republicans that Israel pushed the US into the war and &ldquo;did not pretend to say that he was fighting for us. He said in the most explicit manner: &lsquo;They are American enemies. This is an American war. I'm fighting for America, and I had to do it for America.&rsquo; No one saved Israel, or no one got mixed up in a war in order to save Israel.&rdquo;
In his dialogue with Landau, Olmert also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative he is pursuing with former Palestinian Authority foreign minister Dr. Nasser al-Kidwa to &ldquo;move forward into entirely new realities on the basis of cooperation and mutual respect and compromise and compassion.&rdquo; He harshly condemned the ongoing and record-setting settler violence in the West Bank as &ldquo;obnoxious&rdquo; and &ldquo;heartbreaking.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Speaking out against such actions, he added, "is essential if you want, as a Jew, not to be linked to these actions. You have to speak up.&rdquo;
Read more:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2026-03-03/ty-article/.premium/trump-denies-israel-forced-u-s-into-iran-war-after-rubio-comments-draw-ire/0000019c-b4b3-db60-a7dd-f6b3f7fc0000">'I Might Have Forced Israel's Hand':&nbsp;Trump Denies Israel Dragged U.S. Into Iran War After Rubio Comments Draw Ire</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-03-03/ty-article/.premium/as-israeli-defense-officials-push-for-a-long-offensive-trump-still-has-doubts/0000019c-b066-df64-a59c-fa76f1da0000">As Israeli Defense Officials Push for a Long Offensive, Trump Still Has Doubts</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-09-09/ty-article/.premium/both-sides-are-tired-of-war-ex-pm-olmert-makes-two-state-proposal-with-ex-pa-minister/00000191-d7ae-d233-a5d3-ffbf31530000">'Both Sides Are Tired of War': Former PM Ehud Olmert Makes Two-state Proposal With Former Palestinian Minister</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-02-04/ty-article/.premium/west-bank-settler-violence-averaged-four-incidents-daily-in-early-2026-police-say/0000019c-2926-d663-a39c-3daecf1c0000">Police Report Average of Four Daily Incidents of West Bank Settler Violence in Early 2026</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/west-bank">The latest reporting on West Bank settler violence</a>

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

Your audio guide to Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.

Haaretz Podcast

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer. 

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.