As the United States and Israel entered a two-week cease-fire with Iran, skepticism over the deal is spreading inside Israel. Public fatigue has peaked after more than two and a half years of war, but analysts say a hasty truce without decisively subduing hostile forces could instead threaten security.
A poll conducted by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on the 9th–10th found that about two-thirds of respondents (67%) oppose the current cease-fire with Iran. Many respondents said the latest military operation did not sufficiently weaken Iran and Hezbollah, the armed faction in Lebanon, and indicated that fighting in Lebanon should not stop unless Hezbollah disarms.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has touted the strikes as a "major achievement that changed the Middle East's balance," but public reaction appears chilly. The opposition is leading criticism that none of the strategic goals raised at the outset of the war—such as neutralizing Iran's nuclear facilities or regime change—have been substantively met.
Liat Zvi, who lives in an apartment in central Tel Aviv that was recently damaged by a missile attack, told the BBC in the United Kingdom, "We have already been at war for two and a half years, and this clash just feels like yet another war," adding, "It is hard even to think ahead." In fact, in the poll, one-third of respondents described their current feelings as "despair," followed by "confusion" and "anger."
Signs of change are also emerging in Israeli politics ahead of this year's general election. According to the BBC, some polls show Netanyahu's approval rating falling while that of rival former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is rising. The ruling coalition and the opposition each stand at about 40%, locked in a tight race. In the Knesset makeup, Netanyahu's Likud is expected to remain the largest party, but it is seen as unlikely to secure a majority.
The general election is likely to be held in September–October as scheduled, but with the Middle East situation shifting rapidly, most analysts say the outlook remains hard to predict. Experts say Netanyahu may not rule out continuing the war to break through his legal risk and prolong his political life. Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 on bribery and breach of trust charges, but the trial has been delayed for six years, with no conclusion, citing security conditions and other reasons.
Even if Netanyahu is ousted by a trial resumption or loses the election, many expect Israel's hard-line stance against Iran will not change much. That is because across Israeli politics there is a strong view of Iran as an existential threat, and there are many forces on the right even more hard-line than the current ruling coalition.