Netanyahu Boasts of Manipulating US into Iran Attack

Bibi Netanyahu has for decades boasted of his persuasive powers in manipulating US leaders to do Israel’s bidding.  He first did this in 2001 in a West Bank settler home, where he told a family in an infamous recorded video, that he could wrap the US around his little finger:

Netanyahu: The main thing…is to hit them. Not just one blow, but blows that are so painful that the price will be too heavy to be borne….A broad attack…to bring them to the point of being afraid that everything is collapsing…

Woman: …But then the world will say “how come you’re conquering again?”

Netanyahu: the world won’t say a thing…Especially today, with America. I know what America is. America is something that can easily be moved. Moved to the right direction…They won’t get in our way. They won’t get in our way…Look. That administration [Clinton] was extremely pro-Palestinian. I wasn’t afraid to maneuver there. I was not afraid to clash with Clinton. I was not afraid to clash with the United Nations. I was paying the price anyway, I preferred to receive the value. Value for the price.

After 9/11 he also welcomed the terror attacks because they would make America more receptive to Israel’s war on “Muslim terror.”

“We are benefiting from one thing, and that is the attack on the Twin Towers and Pentagon, and the American struggle in Iraq.” He added that these events “swung American public opinion in our favor.”

There is an old joke Jews used to tell about news reports: is it good for the Jews?”  Bibi’s version is: is it good for Israel?  In this case, it was very good.  The lives of 3,000 Americans on 9/11 and 4,500 soldiers in Iraq, were worth sacrifcing for the benefits it offered Israel.  This is the level of cynicism and depravity to which he sinks.

Benjamin Netanyahu brags on Israeli television about manipulating the U.S. public into allowing Israel to drag the U.S. into a war with Iran.

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— Anonymous (@youranoncentral.bsky.social) August 31, 2026 at 4:28 PM

The latest outrage is this video of a portion of a speech he gave recently, in which he said:

I’ve dealt with this issue against Iran for nearly 40 years. One has to recognize the danger and understand. It took me a long time bring our security establishment that dealt with Iran–and not just its branches. That’s what we did finally when this unified government about which I spoke. It took a long time to bring the US to its senses. I could do this because I had–I don’t want to say thousands–but nearly 1,000 hours on US TV with the ability to influence, through intimate knowledge of all its leaders, including those who support us and those who don’t. The ability to navigate this field without which…Didn’t I say that we’re a tiny country…

After the Iran war began last February, it became clear that Netanyahu had sold Trump a bill of goods concerning the likelihood of success of the war he championed.  Trump is known as someone easily influenced by anyone who successfully flatters his ego. The silver-tongued Israeli leader is a master at such fawning.  He knew which buttons to push and how to get the result he sought.  After all, he’s had eight White House meetings in the last year.  He’s had enough experience in Trump’s presence to know what will get him to Go.

It may be a slight exagerration to say that Netanyahu dragged the US into this pointless mess of a war.  But there is certainly a strong element of truth to it.  And it follows the trajectory of Netanyahu’s previous statements boasting of his ability to manipulate America’s political leaders to Israel’s advantage.

Israel is an albatross around America’s neck. More and more Americans, especially Democrats are recognizing this.  They’re tired of being bamboozled. Tired of the lies and manipulation.  Tired of the corruption of our democratic processes.

But make no mistake–Bibi is the cause, he is a symptom of the rot.  If a more “centrist” Opposition leader becomes prime minister only the notes will change. The song remains the same.  Everything that is wrong with Israel’s influence here will continue.  Until, of course, there is a radical shift in US public opinion and political leadership.  That is coming. The only question is when and how long it will take.