Netanyahu, Israel, risks its legacy in the war to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat

Benjamin Netanyahu spent most of his political career to pledge to do everything necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. In the early hours of Friday, the Israeli Prime Minister tried to do so completely, and to send more than 200 aircraft to strike all parts of Iran in the most devastating attack that the Islamic Republic had faced four decades ago.

The attack – which The targeted Iranian nuclear sitesMissile and air defense systems, and the killing of military leaders and the main scientists-followed nearly two years of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which slipped Israel and Iran, its greatest opponent, unabated towards war.

At that time, the Israeli strikes stumbled on Iran’s regional allies: they contributed to Hezbollah, contributed to the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, and established an endless terror in Gaza in the endeavor of Nitraho to destroy Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that attacked it on October 7 on a degree.

But analysts said the direct attack on Iran -The conversion of decades-continenting shadow war was among the most powerful actors in the Middle East into a comprehensive conflict-Netanyahu’s most destiny decisions so far.

“Over the past two decades, Iran has been the first thing for Netanyahu.”. “This is the most important thing he did.”

Israeli military officials said that the strike decision was taken because the Iranian nuclear program had advanced to a stage that was close to being able to develop a bomb, despite years of Israeli secret attempts to leave.

Another part of their accounts is the belief that it is IsraelThe weakening of the Lebanese Lebanese Armed Group, Hezballah – the most powerful agent in Iran – and the damage to Iranian air defenses and missile production facilities by Israeli strikes last year, provided a window of opportunity to strike if Iran and Hizblah were given longer time to restore Rebuild.

“We cannot bear waiting for another period to work, and we have no other option,” said Eyal Zamir, Israeli chief of staff. “The last and previous events of history have taught us that when the enemy tries to destroy us, we should not turn a blind eye.”

But Eli Jihadeh, from the European Council for Foreign Relations, said that the bombing of efforts to force Tehran to abandon its nuclear program through diplomatic pressure – which Netanyahu always opposes – was a factor. She said: “It is clear that their timing and its wide nature was intended to completely get out of the talks.”

Analysts said that Netanyahu’s decision was also a sign of how he was encouraged by Israel’s military successes against Iranian agents over the past two years throughout the Middle East, as well as Donald Trump’s arrival at the White House.

While the Joe Biden administration pressed the extremist government of Netanyahu on many issues, starting with the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza to its creeping annexation of the occupied West Bank, the Trump administration was more absorbed.

A person familiar with the situation said that the decision to make the final preparation of the strikes was taken on Monday, and that the Trump administration was in the episode and did not object to Netanyahu’s plans. The person said, “The United States knew all the time.”

But analysts said that despite the implicit support from the United States, the operation – which an Israeli official may last for up to two weeks – was fraught with military and political risks to Netanyahu.

In the short term, the biggest danger is that Iran’s revenge raises a much greater conflict. The Islamic Republic still has a large arsenal of ballistic missiles at its disposal and threatened to use it not only against Israel but also against the goals of the United States in the region, which raises the danger that Washington is attracted to fight.

Analysts said that although Hezbollah was severely affected by Israel’s strikes last year, the wounded Iran can also push the armed group to use its remaining capabilities now. The militants align in Iran in Yemen and Iraq can also intensify the firing of missiles against Israel.

With the help of the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries in the region, Israel was largely successful in avoiding the missiles launched by Iran in Israel last year, when the opponents exchanged a direct fire for the first time ever.

But given the scope and importance of Israel’s attack, officials are preparing a much greater response, and the danger of Iranian strikes that caused severe damage to infrastructure as well as civilians.

In the wake of Israel’s strikes directly, the Israelis gathered around the flag, with opposition politicians such as Yair Lapid and Yair Golan, just days after trying to overthrow the Netanyahu alliance. But analysts said that if the stock exchanges escalated into a long -term conflict with severe losses, public opinion may turn.

“The war in Gaza began with great support, it could make the time change their opinion, especially if they have to spend a long time in shelters,” said Nadaf Stradsler, a political advisor who was previously working with Netanyahu.

“We understand that we are in a different position on what we were before. But I do not think people think this is the wrong step now.”

In the long run, the question is whether Netanyahu’s decision to carry out a strike on Iran without participation means that Israel only succeeds in appointing the Tehran program again for a short period, instead of destroying it.

But Bouchinski said that even if Israel did not succeed in the full elimination of Iran’s capabilities, Netanyahu – who was desperate to save his reputation after catastrophic failures on October 7, even drawing the war that followed the “war of salvation” – changed the way.

“I don’t know if this will be a strategic change of the game. Maybe the Iranians will invite their program hardly hit, and they can run it again. They will be right. But for the way Netanyahu will remember, I think it is a change in the game,” he said.

“He will not erase his responsibility for (failure) on October 7. But it will remove some spots.”