Pressure builds on Benjamin Netanyahu to hit Iran hard
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure to hit Iran hard for its unprecedented weekend attack, while Western allies caution against action that will draw the region into war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure to hit Iran hard for its unprecedented weekend attack, while Western allies caution against action that will draw the region into war.
Mr Netanyahu said overnight on Monday (Tuesday AEST) that Iran threatened world peace and the international community must stand united to face the Islamic republic’s aggression.
The Prime Minister has yet to define any shape, form, or timing for a response to the first direct Iranian attack on Israeli soil in which more than 300 drones and missiles were launched on Saturday night in response to a deadly April 1 strike on the Islamic republic’s consulate in Damascus, largely attributed to Israel.
The Iranian government said on Monday that the “era of strategic patience is over”.
Further targeting Iranian personnel and assets “will be met with a direct and punishing response”. However, it said it considered the matter “concluded” unless Israel chose to commit “another mistake”.
Faced with allies urging caution on one side and politicians at home calling for a hard response on the other, Mr Netanyahu has convened his war cabinet twice and called US President Joe Biden.
He has not spoken publicly of the matter since Sunday, when he praised the Israeli defence in a short post on X.
Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi told soldiers on Monday that Iran’s attack would be “met with a response” but did not specify the timing or type.
“There has been a lot of pressure over the last 48 hours on the Israeli government to respond due to the fact that it was a very unprecedented attack,” Iran researcher at Tel Aviv University Raz Zimmt said.
“I’m not sure the Israeli government can avoid a certain immediate reaction, even if it doesn’t want to be engaged in a full-scale confrontation.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir expressed the need for a hard response on the night of the Iranian launches.
“Impressive defence until now – now there must be a crushing attack,” the far-right minister said on X.
A US official said the hope was that “in the light of day” Israel would see it had won a “spectacular success” against Iran’s attack, which resulted in no reported deaths.
Middle East analyst James Ryan said “Netanyahu has already shown a willingness to test any kind of limit Biden wishes to impose”.
Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak condemned hawkish behaviour and denounced “those who want to set the entire Middle East on fire”.
Others, such as Knesset member Gideon Saar, appealed for patience. “Israel does not need to rush in its response and disrupt the priorities it set for itself,” Mr Saar said on X.
“Now, the focus needs to return to victory in Gaza: toppling Hamas and freeing the hostages.”
Israel, which feared being isolated due to the war in Gaza, praised and publicised its co-operation with the US, Britain and France, with support in the region from Jordan in intercepting Iran’s attack. Without their support, its aerial defence system that includes the Iron Dome would have likely been overwhelmed by the Iranian launches.
Western governments, notably those that support Israel in its defence, have warned against an escalation.
A US official has already said Washington would “not participate” in any potential counter-attack by Israel.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and French President Emmanuel Macron also cautioned against retaliation.
“It would be useful to maintain this defence alliance … that is almost unprecedented, so that will favour holding back,” said Calev Ben-Dor, former analyst for the Israeli foreign ministry.
“At the same time, in the Middle East, one cannot be attacked by more than 300 missiles and drones and not do anything.
“I assume nothing will happen in the next … two weeks or so. But I think Israel will, at some stage, strike back, probably more in a covert way than a public way, at a time and place of its choosing.”
The Western coalition’s help limits Israel’s manoeuvring space, as it is in a way indebted to the US, says Jean-Loup Samaan, analyst for the French Institute for International Relations.
“What seems unlikely to me is a frontal response on the Iranians; it’s not a decision Netanyahu can make without consulting the Biden administration,” he said.
“Israeli systems are largely financed by the Americans, so I don’t think they will play around and be ungrateful.”
On Mr Netanyahu’s lack of public response, Jeremy Issacharoff, a former Israeli diplomat, said “the less said, the better”.
“I think the Iranians should be concerned and should be kept as much in the dark as possible, and no one needs to give them any assurances,” he said.
AFP
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