U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his desire not to "get stuck" in Middle East conflict and clearly wants to avoid a renewal of full-on war with Iran – but he may not have a choice, Haaretz senior analyst Amos Harel told the Haaretz Podcast.

"The Iranians are not playing ball. They're not willing to make the concessions he's demanding," Harel said. "Under these circumstances, he may be pushed into a corner" and resume strikes on Iranian targets.

It is a scenario that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clearly desires, Harel said, but it isn't clear whether Trump will include Israel directly in the offensive if it returns to striking Iran. The Israeli military is, he notes, on "high alert."

On the podcast, Harel speaks to host Allison Kaplan Sommer about the "fake cease-fires" in Israel's multiple fronts – where agreements exist on paper, but attacks and drone strikes continue – in Gaza, between Iran and the Gulf states, and between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In Lebanon, he noted, the number of IDF and Lebanese casualties – the latter of which recently passed 3,000 – are "massive" considering that there is no full-scale war officially raging and a recently renewed cease-fire agreement is supposed to be in place.

"We're shedding blood there, and this is not going anywhere positive soon," Harel said. "It all goes back to the fact that Netanyahu time and time again insists on not initiating any kind of diplomatic solution after the guns go silent."

"After operational success is achieved, he always refuses because of his political situation and refuses to undertake any kind of serious negotiations with the other side."

Read more:

Trump Says He Paused Attack on Iran, Signals Nuclear Deal May Be Possible

Analysis by Amos Harel: As Trump Hesitates With Iran, Israel Acts as if Return of War Inevitable

Unmoved by Trump's Ticking Clock, Iran Forms a New Reality in the Persian Gulf

Israeli Soldiers in Lebanon Complain of Risky, Pointless Missions in Broad Daylight

Israel and Hezbollah Trade Fire Across Lebanon Border Despite Cease-fire Extension

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his desire not to "get stuck" in Middle East conflict and clearly wants to avoid a renewal of full-on war with Iran &ndash; but he may not have a choice, Haaretz senior analyst Amos Harel told the Haaretz Podcast.
"The Iranians are not playing ball. They're not willing to make the concessions he's demanding," Harel said. "Under these circumstances, he may be pushed into a corner" and resume strikes on Iranian targets.
It is a scenario that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clearly desires, Harel said, but it isn't clear whether Trump will include Israel directly in the offensive if it returns to striking Iran. The Israeli military is, he notes, on "high alert."
On the podcast, Harel speaks to host Allison Kaplan Sommer about the "fake cease-fires" in Israel's multiple fronts &ndash; where agreements exist on paper, but attacks and drone strikes continue &ndash; in Gaza, between Iran and the Gulf states, and between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In Lebanon, he noted, the number of IDF and Lebanese casualties &ndash; the latter of which recently passed 3,000 &ndash; are "massive" considering that there is no full-scale war officially raging and a recently renewed cease-fire agreement is supposed to be in place.
"We're shedding blood there, and this is not going anywhere positive soon," Harel said. "It all goes back to the fact that Netanyahu time and time again insists on not initiating any kind of diplomatic solution after the guns go silent."
"After operational success is achieved, he always refuses because of his political situation and refuses to undertake any kind of serious negotiations with the other side."
Read more:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/2026-05-18/ty-article/iranian-official-u-s-shows-flexibility-on-irans-nuclear-program-in-talks/0000019e-3c2c-d5a4-afde-7ebfeae80000">Trump Says He Paused Attack on Iran, Signals Nuclear Deal May Be Possible</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/2026-05-18/ty-article/.premium/as-trump-hesitates-israel-prepares-for-renewed-iran-strikes/0000019e-3797-d0ff-afbe-77d7af7a0000">Analysis by Amos Harel: As Trump Hesitates With Iran, Israel Acts as if Return of War Inevitable</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/2026-05-19/ty-article/.premium/unmoved-by-trumps-threats-iran-creates-a-new-reality-in-the-persian-gulf/0000019e-3d45-d104-abde-fdcfd0170000">Unmoved by Trump's Ticking Clock, Iran Forms a New Reality in the Persian Gulf</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-05-19/ty-article/.premium/idf-soldiers-in-lebanon-complain-of-risky-pointless-missions-in-broad-daylight/0000019e-3cbe-df7e-a5be-3eff1fef0000">Israeli Soldiers in Lebanon Complain of Risky, Pointless Missions in Broad Daylight</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/lebanonnews/2026-05-17/ty-article/.premium/israel-and-hezbollah-trade-fire-across-border-despite-cease-fire-extension/0000019e-3577-d26f-a39e-b7ffd3d80000">Israel and Hezbollah Trade Fire Across Lebanon Border Despite Cease-fire Extension</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.