Israel backs US-Iran ceasefire but Netanyahu’s war goals remain unfulfilled
Israel Endorses US-Iran Ceasefire, Yet Netanyahu’s Strategic Ambitions Remain Unmet
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s confident stance at the outset of the Israeli-US military operation against Iran in late February contrasted sharply with the subdued tone of his office’s acknowledgment of the ceasefire declared overnight. The decision, attributed to President Donald Trump, marked a shift in momentum, with both the US and Iran issuing victorious declarations after five weeks of conflict. However, Netanyahu emphasized that the truce did not signal an end to the campaign, stating Israel still had unfulfilled objectives to pursue, either through negotiation or renewed hostilities.
Despite the ceasefire, Iran’s military infrastructure remains operational, and its governing clerical authority has not been dismantled. While Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other high-ranking figures were eliminated in strikes, the nuclear program and stockpile of enriched uranium remain unresolved. Additionally, Iran has persisted in launching missile attacks toward Israel, with multiple projectiles fired overnight in Jerusalem, even after Trump’s agreement. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the missile barrage, underscoring that the threat has not been fully neutralized.
“Netanyahu only mentioned a ‘suspension’ of hostilities before talks with Iran, but he didn’t publicly concede the war was over,” said Anshel Pfeffer, an experienced Israeli journalist and author of Netanyahu’s biography. “This failure to achieve his stated goals is detrimental to him, and there’s potential for a rift with the Americans if the ceasefire was reached without Israel’s active involvement.”
Netanyahu’s initial declaration framed the operation as a means to eliminate the “existential threat” posed by Iran’s leadership. However, Shira Efron, Israel policy chair at the RAND Corporation, noted that the campaign fell short of its promises. “Netanyahu assured Israelis that this would end the Islamic regime, but the snake turned into a hydra,” she remarked. The public was led to believe that Iran’s nuclear capabilities and missile threat would be significantly reduced, yet these concerns persist, with no clear impact on civilian safety.
“There has never been such a political disaster in our entire history,” said Yair Lapid, leader of Israel’s opposition party. “The army executed its tasks, the people showed remarkable endurance, but Netanyahu failed politically and strategically, without meeting any of the objectives he set.”
With Israeli elections approaching, the outcome of the conflict has become a critical test for Netanyahu’s leadership. Analysts like Yossi Kuperwasser, former military intelligence officer and director of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, argued that while “practical achievable goals” were met—such as damaging Iran’s nuclear and missile facilities—”wishful goals” like regime change remain unattained. He cautioned that the distinction between these outcomes is vital for understanding the operation’s true success.
