Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leading a caretaker government that has faced mounting political opposition, has directed the military to prepare for potential conflict with Iran, according to reports. The move comes as opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot undertakes efforts to form a new government, a process that remains uncertain. Netanyahu has been pushing for a national unity government that would include himself and his Likud party, or is positioning himself to benefit if Eisenkot’s coalition-building efforts fail, potentially triggering new elections.
Netanyahu has reportedly maintained near-daily phone communications with US President Donald Trump, urging renewed military strikes against Iran. However, Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir has resisted such proposals, warning that military action could escalate into a broader regional conflict. The opposition, including Eisenkot, has accused Netanyahu of attempting to orchestrate military confrontation for personal political gain, suggesting he is deliberately obstructing the coalition formation process.
Political analysts have noted a paradox in the situation: while critics recognize the political motivation behind potential Iranian military action, Israel’s long-standing hostility toward Tehran—rooted in decades of tension, regional proxy conflicts, and warnings about Iranian nuclear capabilities—creates conditions where even Netanyahu’s opponents might unite behind military action. Previous escalations included a 12-day exchange of strikes with Iran in June 2025 and a joint US-Israeli operation in February that disrupted shipping lanes and affected global financial markets.
Experts suggest Netanyahu faces a precarious political situation, with a majority of the public opposing his coalition and multiple criminal cases pending against him. While some analysts doubt the Trump administration would permit Netanyahu to derail US-Iran negotiations, they believe Israelis would likely support such military action if initiated, providing Netanyahu with a potential political lifeline despite public awareness of the conflict’s manufactured nature.
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