Last June, Netanyahu was charged with three corruption counts, a trial that lasted six years, with bribery carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years. The ICC issued a war crimes arrest warrant for Netanyahu, but after the attack on Iran, he transformed into a national hero for destroying Iranian nuclear facilities.

Now, 2026 is crucial for him. The conscription bill at the end of January could lead to the government's collapse, the corruption verdict has caused a large-scale public backlash, the legislative elections are on October 27th, Iran has become Netanyahu's lifeline, and the US midterm elections are in November. Both the US and Israel need impressive "victories" to secure their electoral results.

Iran, now an orphan of Shiites, poses no direct threat to the United States, yet remains a public enemy in the Middle East, tying down numerous Sunni countries like Saudi Arabia. An Iran that is "just dangerous enough" becomes the most aligned with US national interests, but not with Trump's. The AIPA (American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee) screens pro-Israel candidates within the Republican Party and uses massive sums to eliminate candidates critical of Israel in Democratic elections. Trump's declining approval ratings in the midterm elections, coupled with multifaceted political decisions, are gradually pushing for a US-Israeli joint strike against Iran.Editor/Cao Tianyi