After over a month of the Israel-Iran war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's declarations of victory are increasingly out of sync with continued Iranian missile barrages and growing internal political strife. This dissonance is eroding public confidence and testing national solidarity.
Netanyahu's Victory Claims and Iranian Counterattacks
During Passover, Netanyahu delivered a speech likening Israel's strikes to the Ten Plagues and boasting that Israel has "changed the Middle East." Hours later, Iran launched one of its heaviest attacks of the conflict, highlighting the ongoing threat. Opposition leader Yair Lapid mocked Netanyahu's speech as 'arrogant,' pointing out that Iran's leadership under Supreme Leader Khamenei remains unchanged since before the war.
Sharp Decline in Public Support for War Goals
Surveys from the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) show a significant drop in Israeli belief that the war will achieve its objectives:
- Belief that the Iranian regime will collapse or be weakened fell from 70% to 43.5%.
- Confidence in seriously damaging Iran's nuclear program decreased from 62% to 48%.
- Expectations of crippling Iran's ballistic missile arsenal dropped from 73% to 57%.
- Israelis are nearly evenly divided on whether Hezbollah can be disarmed.
Veteran journalist Avi Issacharoff criticized Netanyahu for proclaiming victory instead of focusing on clear goals.
Domestic Legislation Fuels Political Discord
Netanyahu's coalition passed the controversial 2026 budget, which allocates funds to ultra-Orthodox allies while cutting education and healthcare, and raises taxes. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called it 'the most reckless and anti-Zionist budget in Israel's history.' Simultaneously, a conscription bill seeks to maintain exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men despite the IDF's reported shortfall of 15,000 soldiers. Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot noted the inequity, stating that one hand rewards evaders while the other extends service for others.
A death-penalty bill for Palestinians convicted of terror attacks, backed by far-right Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, has raised fears of international sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
International Pressure and Netanyahu's Legal Battle
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has actively pressed Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, calling delays a 'disgrace' and stating he wants nothing on Netanyahu's mind 'other than fighting.' This rebuke of an Israeli president during a joint war effort is striking. Netanyahu's trial on fraud, bribery, and breach-of-trust charges continues, with the justice ministry advising against a pardon due to no conviction or remorse. Legal experts suggest a pardon would face Supreme Court challenges. Netanyahu has not disavowed Trump's comments, saying Trump 'spoke from the blood of his heart.'
