“Bibi Magik” outsmarted Iran and Donald Trump. He is a master of political chess
Donald Trump does not play chess, a game that requires patience and a methodical approach.
Attempts to guess what is happening in the head of the US president when making decisions, they are probably in vain. After all, many former high -ranking advisers – in particular the former national security advisor John Bolton – claims that Trump has no ideas, only instinct and reactions. His decisions are ad hoc, chaotic and episodic.
All this is a clear contrast to the binjamin of Netanyahu.
Of course, Israel's prime minister uses unforeseen occasions as soon as they appear, but he is also a master of political chess. He thinks over the strategy all the time, both before starting the game and in its during. “He always has a plan,” says Storachler, his former adviser.
Netanyahu is described as methodical and relentless, armed with emergency plans and readiness to change tactics to achieve its superior strategic purpose in the event of obstacles, trying to ensure the opportunity to adapt and anticipate twists and turns, while not losing the eyes of the target. All this was rooted in it while serving in the special forces of Sajjeret Matkal, said Sztrauchler in an interview with Politico. – He always told me: “Listen, you must present the best plans, and in the last moment you decide which of them you will realize.”
Sztrauchler was the head of the Israeli leader campaign during parliamentary elections in 2019 – one of the most spectacular phrases in the long political career of Netanyahu, full of unusual and unexpected returns that brought him the nickname “Bibi Magik”.
Perhaps a more appropriate term would be a “bibi chess player”, a talented player whose deceptive tactics give him an advantage over less experienced and less persistent opponents. Did he manage to achieve in the case of Trump, using and anticipating impulsive and improvised negotiator reactions to maneuver him as he wants when it comes to Iran?
US President Donald J. Trump (L) welcomes the premiere of Israel Binjamin Netanyahu before their meeting in Washington, DC, USA, April 7, 2025.
Temptation Trump
Trump began the second term, promising to end the wars that are currently going on around the world – he was to end the war in Ukraine in one day and conclude a nuclear agreement with Iran. He was to be a global conciliator, a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
His loyal advisers from America First also openly and definitely skeptical about all unlimited ventures that may expose Washington at the risk of involvement in conflict – which could take place, for example, in the case of Iran's bombardment. Among the skeptics is the Vice President of JD Vance, whose suspicion towards foreign entries dates back to the times before his conversion to the magician and has its source during service in the US maritime infantry in Iraq, where he was disappointed with the infamous policy of “eternal wars” of America in this region.
“It is not in our interest to enter the war with Iran,” he said in October 2024, “it would be a huge burden on resources.” It would be very expensive for our country – he added. Less involvement in the Middle East is a topic raised since November by other members of the Trump National Security Team – they want to focus on China and, of course, on internal enemies.
However, Trump sends more warships and military equipment to the region and has established cooperation with the Israeli leader, who has been considering how to overthrow the theocratic regime in Tehran, an ardent enemy of Israel, which brought him another nickname – “Mr. Iran” for three decades. On Monday, Trump strengthened the gloomy warnings of Israel and called 10 million Tehran residents to evacuate the capital of Iran, which is not an easy task, taking into account Israeli attacks, crowded highways and lack of fuel at gas stations.
So far, Trump has refrained from issuing an order to the American armed forces to join Israel in the offensive, which quickly turns not to a limited action aimed at weakening the Iranian nuclear program, but into a war. How much time will it take before Trump is tempted when Netanyahu probably argues with the backstage that Only American bombs destroying bunkers can destroy Iranian underground objects – And why not take the opportunity?
And this would involve the argument that the regime can actually be overthrown. Trump's rhetoric and tons also changed when Iran was shocked by the Israelis. Initially, he seemed more sad, suggesting that Iran was to blame for himself. In the last 48 hours it has sounded more aggressive, more like Israel's formal partner.
Humiliation and destruction
Stocking lampartilizes the idea that Netanyahu manipulates Trump, pushing him and urging him to act, but admits that the Israeli leader was waiting for the right moment and was ready for compromises. This covered the consent at the request of Trump from the beginning of this year, at least for some time, regarding the suspension of weapons in the Gaza Strip.
However, making temporary changes, Netanyahu remained adamant for his main purpose, which is Iran. According to Sztrauchler, for Bibie, the Gaza and Hezbollah zone in Lebanon are only a step to a great confrontation with Iran Ajatollah Ali Chamenei. Humiliation and destruction of Iran's allies so that they could not distract the main goal.
However, as always, Netanyahu will have at least two plans.
– says Sztrauchler. He was patient and persistent, preparing the ground not only at Trump, but also for his war office and military command.
– From October 7 he is progressing step by step – says Sztrauchler. – One of the biggest debates took place with his former defense minister, Joawa Gallant, who wanted to attack Lebanon in the first week. Trump replied: “No, we are not ready. We must act step by step.” He started with the Gaza Strip. Then Lebanon. He was lucky in Syria thanks to the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
It is increasingly clear that Netanyahu has become more confident and bold thanks to the stunning success of the Israeli military and intelligence strategies, which exposed the incompetence of the Iranian regime. At first he publicly talked about the liquidation of the Iranian nuclear program. However, at the weekend and this week he is increasingly mentioning changing the regime.
On Monday, Netanyahu said that killing the highest leader of Iran Chamenei would end the conflict. Military tactics are also changing. The goals and methods expand, for example, to ministries, state television and bombing on cars.
This is a really extraordinary change in Bibie's position. He and his closest colleagues knew that Trump's re -election would not be easy and that he would not give them Carte Blanche. Trump fed the remains of distrust of Netanyahu and it was unlikely that he would support everything he might want.
Fast and effusive praise was part of the efforts that had been ongoing for months, to be in the President of the President after the Israeli leader angry him in 2020. Then Trump complained that Netanyahu was the first foreign leader who congratulated the democrat John Biden, while the outgoing president continued to question the results of the election. “Bibi could remain silent,” Trump complained later.
When Trump visited the Persian Bay last month, where the Arab leaders pressed him to ensure another suspension of weapons in the Gaza Strip and continued negotiations with Iran, Netanyahu kept silence and did not complain that Israel was not included in the travel plan. When Trump abolished sanctions against Syria, which Netanyahu opposed, he was still silent, hoping that he would prompt Trump to support his ambition to humiliate Tehran leaders.
Currently, some loyal supporters of Trump create a narrative according to which Netanyahu and Trump have outsmarted Iran and put to sleep, convincing them that Trump would stop Netanyahu. It is more likely, however, that Trump was outsmarted by the grandmaster.
