Following the attack on Iran, a significant shift has occurred in Israel’s political reality. This was clearly reflected in two consecutive confidence votes in parliament. Just a week ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition government was on the brink of collapse. Now, due to the war against Iran, Netanyahu has become politically stronger. This was reported by Qatar-based news outlet Al Jazeera.On Thursday night, Netanyahu’s government narrowly survived. If a last-minute deal with ultra-religious parties hadn’t been reached, the parliament might have been dissolved, leading to a new election. However, earlier in the week (Monday), another no-confidence motion in the Israeli parliament was overwhelmingly rejected. That proposal, brought by Arab-Israeli parties, received no support from centrists or right-wing members.In the interim, Israel launched an attack on Iran that shocked the entire nation. A segment of the opposition has now become vocal in supporting the assault.Regarding Monday’s no-confidence motion, opposition MP Pnina Tamano-Shata stated, “This proposal is detached from reality. The country is at war, and the opposition’s behavior is irresponsible.”This viewpoint is now dominating mainstream Israeli politics. Even Yair Lapid, once a fierce critic of Netanyahu, has publicly come out in support of the attack on Iran. He has called on the United States to join the war. The day after the strike, Lapid posed for a photo with Netanyahu in front of a map of Iran—symbolizing a new era.Former Prime Minister and right-wing leader Naftali Bennett said clearly, “There is no left or right anymore, no opposition or coalition—everyone is united against Iran.”However, not all opposition parties share this stance. MP Aida Touma-Suleiman remarked, “It’s unbelievable how every time Netanyahu is in crisis, the opposition jumps to support him. They call themselves ‘Zionist left’ but still support war. And those who raise questions are deemed not credible.”Just a week ago, the situation was entirely different. Frustration over the Gaza war, failure to prevent Hamas’s October 2023 attacks, reluctance of reserve soldiers to participate, and open letters from universities had all put immense pressure on Netanyahu.On top of that, corruption charges dating back to 2019 continue to haunt him. But those pressures have now been temporarily overshadowed by the launch of a “familiar war” against Iran.Even after Iranian missile strikes on Tel Aviv, Haifa, and other cities killed at least 24 Israelis, Netanyahu’s support has surged. A poll published Monday by Channel 14 showed a spike in his popularity. Almost all major media outlets are now sympathetic to Netanyahu’s position.Even the Times of Israel has claimed that Iran is committing war crimes—despite Netanyahu himself facing a war crimes arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. He is also under trial at the International Court of Justice for alleged genocide in Gaza—something rarely mentioned in Israeli media.Political analyst Nimrod Flashenberg said that over the past few decades, Netanyahu and his followers have successfully promoted the idea that Iran—not Palestine—is Israel’s main enemy. This narrative is now not only political but has become socially accepted as truth.However, Netanyahu’s history shows that he often finds political relief only to fall into crisis again. Just as he once aimed for “total victory” in Gaza, he now claims his goals include destroying Iran’s nuclear program and, if necessary, bringing down the regime in Tehran.Dov Waxman, a U.S. professor of Israel Studies, says if this war fails to destroy Iran’s nuclear program or force it into a new agreement, Netanyahu will suffer politically. If the war drags on and casualties rise, public opinion could turn against him.But how much public opinion will affect Netanyahu is unclear. Even during the Gaza war, he didn’t yield to public pressure regarding the release of hostages.Analyst Flashenberg notes that Netanyahu might only have about a week’s worth of public support. But experience from Gaza suggests it might not matter to him. If he wants to drag this into a “perpetual war,” he will. The only force that might stop him is the United States.
