‘New Iran war is a matter of time?’ As Israel prepares, opposition urges Netanyahu against new fighting

With many voices seeing a new escalation vis-à-vis Iran as a matter of time amid claims that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues pushing for new strikes, Israel’s opposition has renewed its campaign alleging the prime minister could seek to exploit the strikes for his political benefit and is trying to prevent this.

In recent days, U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled he has no interest in renewing the fighting, saying on Monday that the war was “effectively over” and that “we’re just keeping it the status quo.”

However, Israeli security officials and experts have repeatedly estimated that, with the nuclear question still unresolved, Israel could seek to launch strikes even without U.S. participation.

Speaking at the Israel Hayom Conference in New York on Wednesday, former Mossad chief David Barnea warned that “as long as this regime exists,” it will pursue a nuclear weapon to reach its goal of destroying Israel. Even now, Barnea said, “they are still trying to recover the nuclear program” as the only means of protecting “their crumbling regime.”

Chances of reaching an agreement with the regime in Tehran to give up its nuclear capabilities are “very low,” he estimated. “War is a very highly effective option,” he said, noting that while it would shock the global energy market and economy, it could also accelerate the collapse of the regime, “which is struggling today to survive.”

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Chairman Boaz Levy also warned at the conference, “There will be another war, there is no doubt about that. The question has long since ceased to be ‘if’; it is only ‘when’.”

Western intelligence estimates cited by Bloomberg earlier this week indicated that the regime is producing 50 ballistic missiles a month, about half of its prewar capacity. An unnamed Western official told the newspaper that the regime likely has at least 1,700 ballistic missiles left and is continuously manufacturing more.

A phone call last weekend between Trump and Netanyahu mainly focused on the Iran issue, Ynet News reported. The outlet also reported contradictory statements from sources about apparent differences of opinion on the issue.

Some sources described a “shouting match” between the leaders, while a senior official said it was “very much not a difficult conversation.”

Netanyahu has repeatedly cited the ongoing Iranian threat as one reason why the opposition party leaders should join him in a unity government. Speaking during the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset, he warned, “Iran is working to renew the nuclear threat. The only way to permanently remove this existential threat is by toppling the ayatollah regime.”

“In the face of these threats, we must do one thing in this house: put every other consideration aside and establish a national unity government.”

However, the opposition has resumed warning that Netanyahu wants to drag the country into an unnecessary war, with both sides accusing each other of trying to politicize the issue.

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman on Thursday warned that “a caretaker government is not authorized to make decisions that could drag Israel into a war without parliamentary oversight and without the full agreement of all security agencies. I emphasize: all security agencies.”

The left-leaning Channel 12 News on Wednesday cited multiple unidentified sources claiming that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has again expressed his opposition to certain actions Netanyahu wants to carry out against Iran in recent meetings.

Zamir reportedly estimates these actions could provoke an Iranian reaction.

Shortly after, Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot, who is trying to establish a new government, urged Netanyahu in a letter to exercise additional caution and responsibility in security and national decisions during the transition period until a new government is formed.

Eisenkot also claimed his requests to receive regular security briefings from the prime minister had been rebuffed, and appealed to Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to intervene.

“I demand that you act with national responsibility during this sensitive period. Show restraint and caution, and refrain from dangerous moves that can wait until a new government with the Knesset’s confidence is sworn in,” Eisenkot said in the letter.

“Do not desecrate the people’s trust in government institutions and the decision-making process,” he added.

However, by law, the prime minister is obligated to give security briefings only to the opposition leader once a month. No new opposition leader has been appointed yet as coalition negotiations continue.

The Prime Minister’s Office hit back by claiming all government decisions “were based solely on security considerations and in full coordination with the security establishment.”

It also blasted Eisenkot’s letter as “an irresponsible move that publicly discusses sensitive security matters” and a “transparent attempt to politicize Israel’s national security issues.”

On Thursday, Eisenkot and Netanyahu's offices confirmed in a joint statement that Eisenkot would receive a security briefing soon.

Eisenkot’s letter echoed comments he made in his victory speech on election evening last month, when he declared Netanyahu to be “the head of a caretaker government without a mandate of public confidence.”

Addressing the “heads of Israel's security agencies and public service,” Eisenkot demanded: “Remember that you serve the state and the interests of Israel's citizens alone. Stand firm against any attempt to challenge you. You have my unequivocal backing.”

"Netanyahu, don't you dare use Israel's security for your political purposes,” he added at the time.