Israel's Opposition Suspends Criticism of Netanyahu as Iran Escalation Deepens

Strategic Insights -

The escalation of violence between Israel and Iran has seen the Israeli opposition suspend its criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, shifting its focus to unity in the face of what it sees as an existential threat. Opposition leader Yair Lapid has now praised Netanyahu's decision to launch an assault on Iran, saying it was the "right thing to do," despite his party's previous criticism of Netanyahu's handling of the war in Gaza.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Israeli opposition, led by Yair Lapid, has suspended its criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Lapid praising Netanyahu's decision to launch an assault on Iran.
  • The decision comes as Israel's relations with Iran have deteriorated significantly, with reports of Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and retaliatory strikes by Iran on Israeli cities.
  • The escalation of violence between Israel and Iran has been fueled by a deep polarization in Israeli society, with many Israelis viewing Netanyahu as a divisive leader who has prolonged the conflict for political gain.
  • Lapid's Yesh Atid party, which has been a vocal critic of Netanyahu's handling of the war in Gaza, has seen its popularity plummet in recent polls, with some predicting it could lose half or more of its support.
  • Netanyahu, who has been at the helm of the Israeli government for nearly 16 years, has been accused of prolonging the conflict to appease his far-right governing partners and delay an election that could put an end to his rule.
  • The conflict between Israel and Iran has now entered a new phase, with Israel launching its most significant operation against Iran in years and Iran responding with a series of retaliatory strikes.

Statistics:

  • The war in Gaza has now lasted for 600 days, with Lapid slamming Netanyahu for bringing a conflict upon Israel that didn't exist during his own brief time in office.
  • A poll previously showed that Netanyahu would struggle to form a coalition if an election were held today, with his Likud party polling at just 30 seats in the 120-seat parliament.
  • Lapid's Yesh Atid party has 24 seats in the parliament and could lose half or more of its support, according to recent polls.
  • The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in the deaths of over 2,000 Palestinians in Gaza, with many more injured or displaced.

Sources:

  • The Associated Press. Lapid: 'It's not the right moment to do politics'.
  • Trump, J. (2023). Conflict between Israel and Iran could escalate to 'very dark place'.
  • The Times of Israel. UK warns the situation in Middle East 'has potential to deteriorate further'.
  • The Guardian. Harris says 'world on brink of extraordinary destabilisation'.