‘US should join Iran war,’ say Jerusalem residents

Uncertainty about the Trump administration’s approach adds complexity to these hopes.

By Anna Epshtein, TPS

As the war with Iran entered its sixth day, residents of Jerusalem, speaking to a TPS-IL reporter on the city’s streets, expressed both pride in their nation’s recent operations and concerns about the limits of going it alone against a regional power.

“Israel is indeed doing the dirty work for the entire world,” said Jack Dadon, a retired resident who was enjoying the sun outside an ice-cream cafe, “but the Americans, as a global superpower, must participate in this fight, especially in eliminating the nuclear threat.”

The sentiment reflects a growing belief among some Israelis that their country is bearing a disproportionate burden in confronting Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“We might be able to manage on our own, but only up to a certain point, in my opinion,” argued Dekel Ozeri, an employee at a local toy and office supply shop.

The call for American assistance stems partly from technical considerations, with residents noting that “the US must help, because only it has the power — the bombing capability — that’s capable of penetrating dozens of meters underground.”

However, uncertainty about the Trump administration’s approach adds complexity to these hopes. “But how do you know? You can’t know about Trump,” one person noted, highlighting the unpredictability surrounding potential US involvement.

Despite these concerns, there remains a sense of determination.

“The US is our partner and should join us, but if that doesn’t happen, then Israel, perhaps with US support, will continue doing things quite alone, as it has done in recent days,” said Yehuda Pereleman, a young engineer sitting in a cafe with his pregnant wife.

“We are really proud of our forces for what they managed to accomplish,” said Drora, an elderly woman shopping in a residential neighborhood of the city.

“But we hope this will end one day, because we’re already tired,” she added, her words highlighting how residents are caught between national pride and war fatigue.