Senior Israeli military analysts sharply criticized President Donald Trump's decision to cancel planned military operations against Iran, warning that repeated reversals are undermining both American and Israeli deterrence.
Yossi Yehoshua, a prominent military commentator, said he was surprised by Trump's move. "This was much closer than it was last week," Yehoshua told Radio 103FM on Sunday. "During the night I assessed he was going to strike, and so did Israel. And again it didn't happen. This is not good. It damages Israeli and American deterrence."
Yehoshua added that Trump was squandering the military achievements of the ongoing campaign through what he called "reckless management of negotiations."
Beni Sabti, an Iran researcher at the Israeli National Security Studies Institute, delivered even sharper criticism. "We're stuck with this trampoline," Sabti said on Radio 103FM, using a colloquialism suggesting instability. "Threats one day and a new announcement the next. The result is very bad. It breeds contempt."
Sabti warned that the pattern of escalation and retreat was emboldening Iran. "Every swing he creates gives the Iranians power and strength. Trump is doing irreversible damage," he said.
The analysts' concerns reflect broader anxiety among Israeli security professionals about the strategic consequences of Trump's unpredictable approach to negotiations with Tehran. The U.S. military had been positioned to launch strikes over the weekend; Trump announced the cancellation early Sunday, citing communication from Iran and other regional powers requesting de-escalation.
Iran's state media celebrated the decision, with Mohammad Marandi, an adviser to Iran's negotiating team, posting on X: "Everyone now knows this is fake news. Trump backed down."
Of course, it's also possible that Trump might be planning a surprise strike, but based on his recent history of making threats and then backing down, it seems unlikely.
