The Resumption of Confrontation with Iran Fulfills Netanyahu’s Wish
The renewed escalation aligns with Netanyahu’s long-standing efforts to reignite the conflict and his repeated skepticism regarding the ability of the agreement being discussed between the United States and Tehran to restrain Iran’s nuclear program.
Israeli media reported that the resumption of military confrontation between Israel and Iran represents the fulfillment of a “wish” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has spent recent months seeking to reignite the conflict in pursuit of his political objectives both domestically and internationally.
Amos Harel, the leading military analyst for the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz, stated on Monday that “the renewed war between Israel and Iran comes after two months of calm that followed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran at the beginning of last April.” He stressed that the renewed escalation is consistent with Netanyahu’s approach, noting that the prime minister repeatedly sought to fuel the conflict and continuously questioned the ability of the agreement currently under discussion between Washington and Tehran to curb Iran’s nuclear program or satisfy Israeli expectations.
Harel added that the escalation comes “at a time when Israel is preparing for general elections that appear crucial to Netanyahu’s political future,” expected to take place in September or October. He noted that Netanyahu has focused his public messaging on the claim that he has “reshaped the Middle East” through the wars waged in Gaza, against Iran, in Lebanon, and in Yemen.
In contrast, a number of Israeli analysts and opposition leaders argue that these wars have failed to produce a decisive victory on any front.
The confrontation between Iran and Israel resumed on Sunday evening after two months of relative calm, following an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, which was met by an Iranian missile response targeting northern Israel.
The renewed hostilities come as Israel prepares for anticipated general elections in the coming months amid domestic debate regarding the outcomes of the wars fought by Netanyahu’s government on multiple fronts.
On Thursday, opinion poll results showed that former Israeli Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot surpassed Netanyahu for the first time as the figure considered most suitable to lead the government, marking another indication of the prime minister’s declining standing.
The current prime minister has also been subject since 2024 to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. He also faces allegations of corruption, bribery, and breach of trust, for which an indictment was filed in late November 2019.
Regarding the Lebanese front, Harel stated that Israeli military operations “have failed to achieve the desired results,” adding that “despite intensive strikes targeting Hezbollah positions and weapons depots in southern Lebanon, the military has yet to accomplish its objectives.”
He further argued that Hezbollah continues to “effectively employ explosive drones, causing significant Israeli casualties.”
He also downplayed what he described as “Israeli military attempts to portray control over Hezbollah positions and hideouts in southern Lebanon as strategic achievements,” arguing that these efforts “reflect the difficulties faced by the Israeli military campaign in Lebanon more than they demonstrate the achievement of its objectives.”
According to Harel, “presenting these developments as decisive achievements recalls the way Israel showcased Palestine Liberation Organization positions and hideouts in southern Lebanon during the 1982 Lebanon War.”
The Israeli offensive against Lebanon has continued since March 2 despite the implementation of a fragile ceasefire agreement that came into effect on April 17 and has been extended until early July.
The offensive has resulted in 3,613 deaths and 11,072 injuries as of Sunday, in addition to the displacement of more than one million people.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah continues to target Israeli forces and military vehicles in southern Lebanon and northern Israel with missiles and drones in response to Israeli attacks and repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement.
According to Haaretz, the number of Israeli soldiers and officers killed on the Lebanese front since March 2 has risen to 30.
Israel also continues to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, some of which have been under its control for decades, while others were occupied during the previous conflict between 2023 and 2024. During the current offensive, Israeli forces advanced more than ten kilometres into Lebanese territory, marking their deepest incursion in over twenty-five years, since their withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.
