The writer is author of ‘Black Wave’ and an FT contributing editor
In the hours after October 7, Benjamin Netanyahu promised a war that would “change the Middle East.” Almost two years later, the region does indeed look very different. Admittedly, Netanyahu can claim victory in Lebanon, where Hizbollah has been decimated. As a byproduct, the fall of Bashar al-Assad next door was a great relief to Syrians. But Gaza is a pile of rubble, with more than 50,000 Palestinian dead and 53 Israelis still in captivity.
Now he is on to his next target: Iran. Since Friday, it has become clear the Israeli military campaign extends well beyond the nuclear programme and military targets. Netanyahu is no doubt working to convince Donald Trump to get involved and help deliver a knockout blow to the country’s theocratic regime.