Israel Says It Has 'No Interest' In US-Iran War, But One Call From Trump..
Israel Says It Has 'No Interest' In US-Iran War, But One Call From Trump... Published By, Last Updated: July 22, 2026, 18:32 IST Israel Prime
Israel Says It Has 'No Interest' In US-Iran War, But One Call From Trump... Published By, Last Updated: July 22, 2026, 18:32 IST Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a limited security meeting recently to assess the latest developments involving Iran. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. (AFP file) Israel is preparing for the possibility of being drawn back into the US-Iran conflict if President Donald Trump decides to expand American military action, though for now it has no immediate plans to join the fighting, according to three Israeli sources. With its forces on high alert, Israel is drawing up operational plans for a possible escalation but is, for the moment, staying on the sidelines. Israel has not taken part directly in the renewed fighting, which began in early July after Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, and the United States has not asked it to join the campaign. One of the Israeli sources said that if Trump decided to significantly widen the strikes and requested Israeli participation, “We will be ready." What is Israel planning? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a limited security meeting on Monday night to assess the latest developments involving Iran, according to one of the sources. Officials discussed several possible situations that could draw Israel into the conflict. These included joining the campaign at Washington’s request, responding if Iran launched an attack that required retaliation, or carrying out a pre-emptive strike against what Israel believes could be an imminent threat.
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir also stressed the military’s preparedness on Sunday. “We are prepared for an immediate return to fighting and will act with great force against anyone who harms us," he said. Israel prefers to remain on the sidelines Despite the military preparations, one of the sources said Israel is currently satisfied with the existing situation, in which the US and Iran continue exchanging strikes while remaining far from reaching a nuclear agreement. According to the source, Israel believes continued economic pressure on Tehran serves its strategic interests. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who attended the security consultation, said on Tuesday that Israel had no interest in entering the conflict at this stage. Speaking at a conference, Smotrich said the limited confrontation between the United States and Iran was increasing pressure on the Iranian regime. “The best way to bring about the regime’s downfall is to crush it economically," he said, referring to Iran’s rising inflation. “Therefore, the current situation works in our favor, and we have no interest in pushing ourselves into it." Economic pressure on Iran One of the sources said Israel believes recent US strikes on bridges inside Iran significantly damaged the country’s transport and commercial networks. “The Iranian economy is collapsing, and eventually this will weaken the regime further," the source said. The source also noted that widespread inflation and poverty had triggered mass protests in January, and that Israel considers Iran’s economy one of the regime’s biggest vulnerabilities.
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