Clinton Says Israel Pushed War on Iran Throughout Her Tenure

Hillary Clinton revealed Tuesday that during her tenure as U.S. Secretary of State, the Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu mounted a persistent campaign to draw the United States into military action against Iran, pressure she described as "relentless" and "a constant push."

Israeli officials repeatedly conveyed urgency through pointed language, including the phrase "Our planes are on the tarmac."

Clinton's response was brief: "Well, good luck."

When asked directly whether she felt she was being manipulated by an ally that receives enormous amounts of US aid, Clinton did not hesitate. Her answer: "All the time."

War as a Political Weapon

Clinton also said "Netanyahu believes that war is his friend because his political standing is under attack from a lot of different directions”.

"He wants to contain the opposition by creating conflict so that he tries to rally the country behind him."

The Iran Deal as a Breaking Point

Clinton then addressed the current moment, suggesting the emerging US-Iran agreement could prove a turning point in Israeli politics.

"I think this Iran deal may be the straw that finally breaks that and creates an opening for his departure in the upcoming elections," she said.

The remarks carry added weight given Israeli strikes on Beirut that nearly derailed a ceasefire agreement, and the publicly documented friction between President Donald Trump and Netanyahu.

At the G7 Summit in France, Trump said Netanyahu "has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon."