Public support for war is growing in Israel as tensions with Iran escalate, while voices opposing military action face increasing hostility and suppression, according to activists and lawmakers. Eleven Israelis have been reported killed in Iranian strikes since February 28, though the actual number and the effectiveness of Israel’s Iron Dome defense system remain unclear.
Rising Support for War with Iran
A recent poll by the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) revealed overwhelming public support for strikes on Iran, with 93 percent of Jewish-Israeli respondents expressing approval. The poll also showed 74 percent support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite his historically divisive leadership.
“No one’s talking about opposition to the war,” said Itamar Greenberg, a 19-year-old Israeli antiwar activist. He described an environment where most of Israel’s media and political figures have aligned behind the war effort, with the exception of the left-wing Hadash party and antiwar organizations like his own, Mesarvot.
Crackdown on Dissent
Greenberg reported facing harassment and violence for his activism, including being spat on in the street and targeted in an online hate campaign. He also described being beaten and illegally strip-searched by police during a recent protest.
“We held a protest on Tuesday, where the police were already waiting. They beat and arrested us. I was illegally strip-searched,” he said, describing it as efforts intended to humiliate him.
Six months ago, after being arrested for protesting the genocide in Gaza, Greenberg said prison guards threatened to carve a Star of David on his face.
Threats to Lawmakers and Activists
Lawmaker Ofer Cassif of the Hadash party echoed Greenberg’s concerns, stating he fears physical attacks from fascists more than missile strikes. He noted that criticism of the government’s handling of Israeli captives in Gaza was comparatively more acceptable than opposing the war with Iran.
Cassif also addressed accusations that opposing the war equates to supporting the Iranian regime, stating, “We’re unequivocally not. We want to see that regime go, but we’re not going to allow Netanyahu to say he’s doing this for the Iranian people. He isn’t.” He pointed out that the Israeli leadership historically supported the Shah of Iran, despite his dictatorial rule.
Netanyahu’s Rhetoric and Iranian Claims
Prime Minister Netanyahu has invoked apocalyptic language, comparing Iranians to Amalek, a biblical enemy the Jews were divinely ordered to destroy. He stated, “In this week’s Torah portion, we read, “‘Remember what Amalek did to you.’ We remember, and we act.”
Iran claims its recent strikes targeted military sites, symbolic infrastructure, and even Netanyahu’s office, describing the attacks as precise and strategic. However, Netanyahu’s office dismissed the claim of hitting his office as “fake news,” with reporting restrictions making independent confirmation difficult.
A Society with “No Middle Ground”
Political analyst Ori Goldberg described Israeli society as believing it is on the verge of a holy war. “They brought an antiwar activist onto one of the light news programmes,” Goldberg said, “and she was treated like you would a flat-earther. It’s as if it’s inconceivable that anyone would oppose this war.”
Goldberg added, “Israel has become a society with no middle ground, no capacity for conversation. It’s as if our entire existence is dependent on our ability to do anything we want. And if the world tries to stop that, then the world’s anti-Semitic, and we all burn.”
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
