Majority of Israelis want to de-escalate tensions after Iran strike

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Financial Times
17 Apr 2024 22:21

While the regime has "in principle" decided to respond, the timing and scope of such action remain unknown due to international pressure, notably from allies like the US and the UK.

Missiles are carried on a truck as an Iranian army band leader conducts the music band during Army Day parade at a military base in northern Tehran, Iran, April 17, 2024. (AP)

The majority of Israelis (52%) believe that an immediate response to Iran's retaliatory strike is not desired, but rather prefer "to close the current round of hostilities," a recent poll conducted by the Hebrew University of Occupied al-Quds revealed, as reported by the Financial Times.

"Everyone is on board with the [Gaza war] goals. But we see a very different path here" with Iran, Nimrod Zeldin, who conducted the study, told FT. "Iran is more complicated."

According to the report, the clear-cut split is reflected in the "tortuous" debate within the war cabinet led by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Experts argue that the window for an immediate response is closing further as time passes.

One Israeli source informed the Financial Times that the regime has "in principle" taken a decision to respond. "But the timing and scope of such an operation remain unknown," the report says, noting that international pressure from allies, namely the US and the UK, is causing further delay.

This lack of a "clear signal" from the war cabinet has left the public "in limbo," with daily life returning to "an uneasy semblance of wartime normalcy." For instance, just two days after the Iranian response, tens of thousands of people attended an open-air concert in "Tel Aviv" on Tuesday. But the army warned that restrictions can be reimposed swiftly if the regime decides that the time has come to initiate a response.

Iran's overnight attack on Sunday was conducted in response to "Israel's" recent aggression on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. The attack involved drones, cruise missiles, and surface-to-surface missiles launched from Iran. The strikes that were intercepted came in joint collaboration between US, French, UK, and Jordanian forces.

The National Security Research Institute revealed that it cost the Israeli occupation a hefty 4.5 billion shekels ($1.2 billion) to intercept the drones and missiles launched by Tehran.

A US official said Sunday that Washington would "not participate" in any potential counterattack by "Israel", while British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and French President Emmanuel Macron also cautioned against retaliation.

On Monday, Axios reported that "Israel's" Security Minister Yoav Gallant informed US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin over the phone about Israeli plans to respond to Iran's recent retaliatory attack.

According to the report, Gallant told Austin that "Israel" will not tolerate the Iranian attack going without a response. It will also not tolerate retaliatory responses every time the regime strikes targets in Syria.

Tehran has warned several times that any action on part of "Israel" will be met with a greater response.