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Iran, recognizing surefire defeat in a kinetic war, is leaning in on an information warfare campaign to undermine the United States and Israel from within, according to Yuval David, a strategic U.S.-Israel geopolitical communications advisor.
“You cannot beat Israel or the United States in a physical kinetic war,” David told Fox News Digital from Budapest, where he joined Israeli President Israel Herzog for high-level diplomatic talks Wednesday, adding the warning of an “information warfare system.”
“And that’s what’s going on with social media, with our devices and the people who are on TikTok and Instagram and Facebook and X and YouTube and all of the different social media platforms where the Islamic Republic of Iran is able to affect people’s minds.”
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President Donald Trump has had his disagreements with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but appeasement of Iran is not one of them. (REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt)
“One of the things that it does is it tries to create a rot from within the societies and sadly it’s very much succeeding in doing so,” he added, stating that Iran’s campaign has enjoyed “guidance from Russia and China.”
David’s warning comes as Israel prepares for an election next week that analysts say could change its leadership but is unlikely to produce a fundamental shift in the country’s Iran policy.
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A Reuters analysis published Wednesday found that Iran will likely remain Israel’s chief adversary, with military force continuing to serve as the country’s preferred tool against its enemies. The report said Israel’s security doctrine is centered on confronting Iran, maintaining buffer zones beyond its borders and keeping military pressure on to deter threats.
A victory for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, backed by conservative coalition partners, could deepen Israel’s confrontation with Tehran, not bring about appeasement. Even an opposition-led government would likely share the same broad strategic outlook, David said.
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“The Islamic Republic of Iran is a massive concern for the world,” David said. “Tehran does not fear another diplomatic statement. It fears an America and an Israel with the intelligence, military capabilities and political will to act together.”
David said the U.S.-Israel alliance should not be judged by whether American leaders support the same Israeli candidate.
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“Presidents come and go, prime ministers come and go. America’s and Israel’s enemies do not take election years off,” he said. “America doesn’t need to choose Israel’s prime minister, nor will it, nor can it, nor is it even trying to. America just needs a strong Israeli partner, whoever the Israelis elect.”
Reuters has cited regional analysts who said Netanyahu’s re-election could allow him to pursue a more aggressive campaign against Iran, while Arab states remain wary of his policies but want Tehran’s influence contained.
David said Iran’s hostility toward the United States and Israel extends beyond the current conflict.
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“The Islamic Republic of Iran has been waging this ideological war against America and also against Israel and also against democracies around the world since 1979,” he said. “The regime never stopped a war.
“Americans thought we have had a war and then we didn’t have a war. Then we had one. Then we didn’t. Well, the Islamic Republic of Iran never ended that war. They’ve seen this as an ongoing war since 1979.”
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He also framed U.S. support for Israel as a matter of serving American national security interets.
“America does not support Israel because Israel is helpless. America partners with Israel because Israel is capable,” David said. “Supporting Israel’s security isn’t charity. It’s American strategic self-interest.”
President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu, contrasted with Vice President JD Vance’s decision to stay out of the race, reflects differing political approaches rather than a split over Iran or the U.S.-Israel alliance, according to David.
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“President Trump is endorsing Prime Minister Netanyahu – Vice President Vance is emphasizing American priorities, but supporting Israel’s security doesn’t require endorsing a particular Israeli politician,” he concluded.
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“Trump is speaking to Israeli voters because that’s what Trump is able to do – Vance is speaking to American voters,” David said. “Far too many Americans don’t realize both Trump and Vance know that Tehran is listening.”