President Barack Hussein Obama expressed doubts about Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s approach to Iran, saying the Israeli leader has consistently pushed for a more aggressive military posture on the issue.

In a wide-ranging interview with The New Yorker, Obama said Netanyahu made similar arguments to him during his time in office as those later presented to President Donald Trump. “I think my prognosis was accurate,” Obama stated. He added that Netanyahu may have “gotten what he wanted,” but questioned whether the outcome serves Israel or the United States. “Whether that’s what is ultimately best for the Israeli people, I would question that. Whether I think it’s what is good for the United States and America, I would question that,” he said, noting “an ample record” of disagreements with Netanyahu.

Shifting to broader international issues, Obama spoke about the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the evolving global order, warning that repairing relationships with allies could prove more difficult than resolving internal challenges. He pointed to the system established after World War II as a major achievement, highlighting institutions like NATO and the World Bank as part of a structure that, despite its flaws, helped foster global stability and economic growth.

Obama said the United States played a leading role in building that framework by choosing cooperation rather than force. At the same time, he cautioned that recent developments have weakened those alliances. He stated that US partners “can no longer count on us being the hub of that international order,” citing policy decisions and rhetoric that have unsettled traditional allies.

He warned that a reduced American presence on the world stage could have far-reaching consequences. “If we don’t talk about human rights, human rights don’t get talked about that much,” he said, adding that US leadership remains critical, though it may increasingly depend on example rather than directive influence.

Responding to comments made by President Trump regarding Iran, Obama stressed the need for moral clarity in leadership. He said that American leadership must reflect “a basic regard for human dignity and decency,” warning that without such principles, “the world can break in very bad ways.”

Obama also pushed back on the idea that Trump’s presidency signals a rejection of his own policies, saying most Americans still support his positions.

{Matzav.com}