Israeli authorities have confirmed that the majority of the public supports the ongoing war with Iran, despite initial political divisions. The Israel Democracy Institute released a poll earlier this month, which showed 93 percent of Jewish respondents backing the attack on Iran.
Alon-Lee Green, cofounder of the Palestinian-Jewish activist group Standing Together, attempted to organize a protest against the war on Thursday. However, the event was met with police presence and right-wing protesters. Green stated that the police checked their IDs and monitored their activities, which he believed was an attempt to intimidate them.
Green noted that much of Israeli society has supported the war with Iran, similar to the backing given to the war on Gaza following the October 7 attack on southern Israel. He pointed out the paradox of the opposition supporting a war started by their political opponents, citing opposition leader Yair Lapid's decision to no longer back motions of no confidence against the government amid a "just war".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the war in epochal terms, stating that the conflict against Iran would be "recorded in the annals of Israel" and was being fought for "future generations" and "the future of humanity". Chatham House's Yossi Mekelberg told Al Jazeera that rallying around the flag is to be expected in the first few days of any war, especially given the perceived threat posed by Iran.
Regional Context
Mekelberg added that the psychology of war helps to explain the widespread support, as all of Israel's political parties are offering uncritical support for a war against a country that has been arming Hezbollah and calling for the death of Israel. However, he noted that details about negotiations, sanctions, and the effectiveness of the nuclear deal have been lost in the rush to war.
London-based Israeli academic and media analyst Ayala Panievsky told Al Jazeera that there is a significant gap between how the war is portrayed inside Israel and elsewhere. She stated that there is little to no criticism of the war in the Israeli mainstream media, and that Netanyahu's takeover of the media has fueled the process.
Panievsky also noted that the term "regime change" does not trigger the same kind of trauma and fear in Israel as it does in other countries, given the different historical context. Mekelberg added that people are not interested in reflection or analysis, and that Iran is perceived as the aggressor, making the attack appear like self-defence.
In Tel Aviv, Green expressed skepticism about the war, stating that he and other members of Standing Together do not believe that waging war on Iran is the best way to liberate its people. He also questioned the Israeli public's support for a war with no clear end, citing the lack of progress despite previous claims of destroying Iran's missiles and ability to attack Israel.
Source: Al Jazeera
