A senior political source from the Middle East tells Israel Hayom that the US wants the military campaign against Iran to end, and has given Israel just one week to conclude it. The source also assessed that the regime in Tehran is unlikely to be replaced, because such a change would require either a ground invasion by troops or the renewal of large-scale protests inside Iran, something the source does not believe will happen in the near future.
According to the senior source, there is a major gap between how the war is viewed in the US and how it is seen in Israel. In Washington, the source said, officials are worried about the impact on oil prices, whereas Israel sees the war as an achievement and is celebrating it.
The source also addressed the issue of Lebanon and Hezbollah, saying that despite Israel's killing of Hezbollah's previous secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, the organization is still standing, as is Hamas.
According to the source, Israel is making a mistake by not fully pursuing diplomatic channels after the military achievements it has secured, adding that countries in the region could help advance such efforts, saying that the matter is sensitive.
Regarding Qatar, the source said Arab states now view it as a sister country. This marks a significant shift in the region's attitude toward Qatar, which had previously been seen as playing a "double game," not only in Israel's eyes but also among Arab countries. Now, after Qatar mediated the hostage deal together with Egypt, and after President Donald Trump gave it a central role in developments in the Gaza Strip, attitudes toward Doha have changed.
However, the source did not spare criticism of the Israeli government over developments in Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank. According to him, some elements within the government have extremist tendencies and are exploiting the confrontation with Iran to create facts on the ground and push Palestinians out of their homes. The source said the government is missing an opportunity to calm the situation, including in the Gaza Strip, and to pursue diplomatic steps.
