Israeli analysts describe confusion after US President Trump unexpectedly shifts from threatened strikes on Iran to talks.Israeli analysts have described a sense of disappointment and confusion in the country after United States President Donald Trump’s claim that negotiations with Iran to wind down the war would continue.Trump’s comments come despite his threats to launch a wave of strikes against Iran’s energy infrastructure, and denials from Iran that any negotiations are taking place.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listThroughout the war, Israeli leaders have framed themselves as being at the forefront of the fight against Iran, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu frequently boasting of having convinced the US to join what he has repeatedly framed as an existential threat posed to Israel by Iran.In a video statement released on Monday after Trump’s comments, Netanyahu said that the US president believed that it was possible to leverage “the mighty achievements obtained by [the Israeli military] and the US military to realise the goals of the war in an agreement … that will safeguard our vital interests”.“In parallel, we continue to attack, both in Iran and Lebanon,” the prime minister added. “We are methodically dismantling the missile programme and the nuclear programme, and continue to hit Hezbollah hard.”Despite that framing, many in Israel are acutely aware that the war was presented to the Israeli people at the outset as one that would likely overthrow the Iranian government and end the threat from the country. With the …
