Israeli Opposition Leaders Advocate for Hardline Stance on Iran, Outpacing Netanyahu

When Israel initiated a significant military operation against Iran in February, with the United States participating, the Israeli government received broad backing from the Jewish Israeli public. Opposition parties expressed their support for the military and endorsed the bold action. A shared sentiment of animosity towards the Iranian government unites mainstream Zionist parties. However, this consensus shifted in June following an announcement from US President Donald Trump, stating that Iran and Israel had agreed to cease hostilities. This decision, and Netanyahu's compliance at the time, proved unpopular in Israel. Data from the Israel Democracy Institute indicates that 65 to 70 percent of Jewish Israelis felt that halting the conflict did not serve Israel's national security interests.

As Israelis approach national elections on October 27, Iran continues to be a significant electoral issue. Opposition parties frequently cite Iran as an example of what they perceive as numerous failures by Netanyahu, promising to reform security and foreign policy if elected. Gadi Eisenkot, a leading contender, believes the conflict remains unresolved. While deeming a change in Iran's government an unrealistic objective, Eisenkot criticizes Netanyahu for insufficient action against Iran's nuclear program. At the launch of his new party, Yashar, in September, Eisenkot stated, "Ultimately, it must end in the destruction or dismantling of the Iranian nuclear programme, a goal not yet achieved with 440kg [970lb] of highly enriched uranium already there, which could quickly be turned into several nuclear devices."

Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, now the head of the opposition in the Knesset, accuses Netanyahu of a strategic misstep. He recently suggested to the Atlantic Council that overthrowing the administration in Tehran is an achievable goal necessitating military escalation. "What Israel should do or the alliance should do is bomb all the energy facilities, especially on Kharg Island, but other places as well in order to make sure that the Iranian economy is demolished. And the reason is that it’s the only thing that will overturn the regime," Lapid stated. Notably, Netanyahu had previously advocated for bombing such civilian infrastructure. An international backlash, citing potential war crimes, and Trump's refusal to support such actions, halted these plans.

Naftali Bennett, another former prime minister, asserts that Israel must maintain military supremacy across the region. For Bennett, toppling the Iranian government and defeating it is essential. He further identifies Qatar as an "enemy" and labels Turkiye as the "new Iran," suggesting that military conflict with the NATO member is unavoidable. "We will build an alliance of moderate forces in the region against the Islamist forces, against Iran, against Qatar, Turkiye and all the radical forces. We will take proactive actions to shape the region," Bennett recently told supporters.

Eisenkot and other opposition leaders do not dismiss the possibility of renewed confrontations, expressing confidence in the military and security establishment's ability to manage risks. However, opposition leaders have voiced concerns that Netanyahu might initiate military escalation before the elections to gain political advantage or even to disrupt the electoral process, despite his recent statement that he had no plans to attack Iran before the vote. These apprehensions intensified after Netanyahu posted a video from the Tel Nof Airbase warning of potential attacks by Israel's enemies before the elections. Reports also indicate that Netanyahu shared intelligence regarding new threats from Iran with the US president. Opposition leaders swiftly criticized Netanyahu, accusing him of "political fearmongering." Lapid questioned Netanyahu's motives and accused him of using Israeli military facilities as backdrops for campaign videos. In essence, most Israeli opposition parties and leaders are not against engaging in conflict with Iran; many adopt an even more aggressive stance towards Tehran than Netanyahu. Their primary concern is avoiding a new military escalation prior to the elections.