Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly seeing a rise in support domestically following a large-scale airstrike targeting Iran’s key leadership and nuclear facilities. Despite casualties in Israel due to missile retaliations from Iran, a significant portion of the Israeli public appears to back Netanyahu’s prioritization of eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat.
On the 15th of this month, local time, The Times reported that Netanyahu visited Bat Yam, a city south of Tel Aviv, which was devastated by Iran’s missile retaliation. Although the city saw numerous casualties, including children, and residents are living in fear of the ongoing conflict, Netanyahu was received as a “hero” by crowds there, according to the report.
This public backing seems to stem from a shared concern among Israelis over the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear aspirations. A resident of Bat Yam expressed to The Times, “If someone is going to attack me, I believe in attacking first,” highlighting that Netanyahu’s popularity is due to his willingness to take bold action where needed. Even Netanyahu’s critics have long insisted that Israel needs to take firm action against Iran.
Netanyahu justifies the airstrikes on Iran by citing the need to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat. In a Fox News interview on the 15th, he said, “This operation is to protect not just Israel but the world,” referencing the discovery of uranium enrichment in Iran capable of producing nine nuclear bombs. “We could not allow a second Holocaust, a nuclear Holocaust,” he asserted.
The Washington Post (WP) notes that this move could offer Netanyahu a chance to regain his political footing, which had been shaken by surprise attacks from Hamas in October 2023 and the subsequent prolonged Gaza conflict. WP reported that Netanyahu used the strikes as an opportunity to prevent parliamentary dissolution and the collapse of his coalition government, indicating that many political issues have been put on hold.
Interestingly, some of Netanyahu’s opponents are openly supporting the airstrikes. Naftali Bennett, a prominent political rival and former Israeli Prime Minister, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “Israel is saving the world from a nuclear-armed Iran.” Yair Lapid, leader of Israel’s main opposition party Yesh Atid, also urged unity in the face of Iran’s violent assaults.
However, WP cautioned that if Israel cannot demonstrate the success of its military operations or if the situation prolongs with escalating Israeli casualties, Netanyahu’s position could deteriorate. AP News noted that while Netanyahu seeks to be remembered as the leader who saved the nation from nuclear destruction, this is a politically risky gamble. It was also mentioned that Netanyahu appears to be pursuing a regime change in Iran, a complex and difficult task that could potentially weaken his position further.