Bill Clinton on Middle East crisis: Netanyahu wants to stay in office forever, US should stop Iran but… – Times of India

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1. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of Iran, framing it not as a genuine national security strategy but as a political tool to stay in power indefinitely. Clinton cast doubt on Netanyahu’s motivations, suggesting that the Israeli leader exploits fear of Iran to avoid addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to sideline peace efforts. Clinton also took aim at Donald Trump, warning that both leaders show little interest in a two-state solution and are fueling a cycle of undeclared wars, especially against Palestinians and potentially Iran, that primarily result in civilian deaths. While Clinton agreed that Iran shouldn’t be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, he condemned the path of constant military escalation and urged a return to diplomacy. His comments imply that what’s often framed as national security is actually a deeply cynical use of foreign policy for domestic political gain—at great human cost.

2. I don’t think Netanyahu is crazy enough to think he can stay in office until he dies. I don’t even think he is trying to stay out of jail. I think he’s trying to salvage his legacy. He wants Israeli history textbooks to remember him as the guy who struck down all of Israel’s enemies, not the guy who was in charge during Oct 7.

3. Dude has it on point. He’s gone so far as trying to trick the worlds superpower into joining his mud fight

4. I don’t think Netanyahu’s primary motivation in escalating the conflict with Iran is to stay in power. He likely thinks there’s a window of opportunity for forcing a regime change in Iran to something which is a bit less hostile towards Israel, and is going all in to make the most of the situation. Remember, this has been a goal of his for a very long time. Staying in power, and distracting the world from the terrible optics of conflict with Palestine, are just bonuses.

   Overall I agree with most of what Clinton is saying.

5. Clinton’s take is mostly on point. I have two points of disagreement:

   1. Israel and Iran do not engage in diplomacy. Trump will only engage diplomatically if he gets an obviously better deal than Obama did. That will only be possible if Iran gets battered in combat first. Netanyahu probably is exploiting the situation to retain power, but he’s also doing a correct strategic thing for the conflict.

   2. The only people who want a two state solution in Israel-Palestine are outsiders. Nobody on either side of the conflict is interested. Israelis 3 to 1 oppose. Palestinians 4 to 1 oppose. The leaders of the major political parties in both Israel and Palestine are not going to agree to a two state solution. It is a dead concept. Palestinians want the right to return to their former homes in Israel. It is the blood issue of the conflict. Israelis aren’t going to give that so long as Palestinian terrorism exists. What is needed are confidence building measures and a generational time scale.

6. October 7 was ordered by Iran. Just a year ago Iran attacked Israel with hundreds of missiles, a year before Israel attacked Iran. Iran funded Hezbollah that attacked Israel on October 8. Netanyahu was absolutely right about Iran.

7. Netanyahu has certainly pursued an aggressive foreign policy in part due to political considerations, especially in Gaza where the War has dragged on for entirely political reasons but acting like that is the only factor when every Israeli politician has seen Iran as a massive threat since 2000 is a tad bit dishonest especially given that it appears this millitary operation was done in part due to time constraints like Iran rebuilding there air defenses and Mossad forces being buried inside Iran.

   And as shown by the third Lebanon, war, a war that he ended in a few months, Netanyahu can run a war relatively “apolitically” with the focus largely on Israeli security interests.

8. Keep in mind they have a statue of Clinton in Kosovo because of his bombing raids when UN did nothing to stop the mass killings.

   And he saved Bosnia from a full scale genocide too via bombings. Clinton absolutely would have done what Netenyahu is doing. It’s not wrong to point out the morality behind the decisions when you are free to just make verbal statements. But there is a reason Clinton is the most hated US president in Serbia. He was fully willing to use the US airforce.

9. He isnt wrong. Netanyahu would sell Israel to aliens if it will protect his position.

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