Netanyahu diverts global attention from Gaza war

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu chose Friday 13th as his lucky day, the day he would at long last launch his attack on Iran.

- Michael Jansen, Political Correspondent

As he has not been compelled to ceasefire in his Gaza war or held accountable for Israel’s repression in the occupied West Bank, Netanyahu clearly believes there are no restraints on Israel. It can do whatever it wants. He prepared 30 years for this attack by falsely playing up Iran as an existential threat to Israel and arguing that military force was the sole means for countering this danger. He ignored the fact that the Western powers have armed Israel, including with nuclear weapons, to counter any attack from any or all regional antagonists.

Netanyahu got lucky. His bombs have fallen on Iran’s nuclear facilities and his drones and agents have slain Iran's senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Most of the ballistic missiles fired by Iran at Israel have been intercepted over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. For Netanyahu, the ratio of deaths and injuries has been acceptable. By striking Iran, Netanyahu has preserved his fragile coalition which last week could have collapsed due to Ultra-Orthodox anger over the failure by parliament to exempt Jewish religious students from miliary service. Thanks to his low approval rating, he could not expect to emerge victorious from a new election and could face jail time over court cases for corruption.

He also benefits from national unity forged by a new war at a time the Israeli public has become sharply divided over the Gaza war. Most Israelis are angry over his refusal to ceasefire and secure the return of Israeli hostages before Hamas is eliminated. Having failed to secure Hamas’ end in 20 months, the Israeli army is unlikely to achieve it anytime soon. Reserve military officers and soldiers have refused to join their units while the war front has been in Gaza. Resisting attacks by Iran could force them to respond positively to a call-up.