Netanyahu’s war against failed strategically, militarily, and publicly

In an article published on the Hebrew-language platform Micromit, Meiron Raboivert pointed to aspects of this failure.

In the introduction, he wrote: “In Israel, the war against Iran was hastily celebrated as a brilliant success. But it is highly doubtful that this is actually the case. The goals Netanyahu had declared were not achieved; Trump eroded Israeli sovereignty and weakened public opinion. And most importantly, the quagmire of Gaza hasn’t disappeared anywhere.”

The author went on to admit: “Nonetheless, it cannot be ignored that the Iranians have created a certain level of deterrence. Since 1948, the major urban centers of Israel had never faced a threat like the one posed in this war. Entire buildings collapsed. Nearly 10,000 Israelis (a number approved for publication by the Israeli censorship authority) were displaced. Twenty-five high-rise buildings were slated for total demolition (compared to only one building since October 7). Forty thousand claims for financial compensation were filed. City streets were emptied, and a significant portion of economic activity came to a halt. October 7 was a horrifying event, but it was seen as an exceptional incident. However, over the past twelve days, millions of Israelis have felt that their sense of invulnerability has cracked.”

The analysis continues: “In terms of deterrence, Iran has shown that even with Israel’s vast defensive capabilities, it is still possible to strike deep into Israeli territory. Iranian missiles created scenes in Tel Aviv, Bat Yam, and Be’er Sheva that resembled those typically seen in Gaza—and these images circulated across the Middle East, even among people who don’t necessarily sympathize with the Iranian regime.”

The writer concludes by acknowledging: “If the Israeli leadership attempts another war with Iran in the future, public support and backing for it will be significantly weaker than it was during this round.”