ISRAEL PERSPECTIVE

Jerusalem, July 11, 2026. Israel has transmitted new intelligence to Washington regarding an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump, according to the Wall Street Journal as cited by the Jerusalem Post. The Israeli embassy in Washington declined to comment, while Trump publicly downplayed the information: "No, no, Israel didn't find anything," he said, adding that he has long been "target number one" for Tehran.

Coordination between the two countries remains close, nonetheless. Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump spoke by phone on Thursday evening, with the US president informing the Israeli Prime Minister of ongoing strikes in the Gulf against Iranian targets. Netanyahu took the opportunity to caution Washington against selling F-35s to Turkey and to raise concerns about Erdogan's comments, which Israel views as hostile to its very existence, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's office.

On the ground, Israeli military officials indicate that Israel is not expected to be drawn into the current exchange of strikes between Washington and Tehran "at this stage," while also stating that the army remains "ready for any eventuality." A source in Jerusalem told the New York Post: "We are ready to restart, if necessary. We have proven our solidarity with the United States." The possibility of direct involvement would depend on an explicit request from Washington.

An analysis by Haaretz, however, introduces a note of skepticism regarding Trump's escalation of rhetoric, which it describes as "crisis diplomacy" following the NATO summit in Ankara. The newspaper suggests that American and Iranian interests remain aligned towards a negotiated de-escalation and argues that "Netanyahu's hopes for prolonged tension may be disappointed."

Tehran, for its part, has warned that Israel "will not be spared" in future retaliation, according to Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. At the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, crowds chanted death threats against Trump, a context in which the Israeli revelation about the alleged plot is set.