Iran-Israel war: A lifeline for Netanyahu?

As Israeli warplanes continue to hammer Iranian targets, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emerged politically reinvigorated, both domestically and on the world stage. Just days before Israel’s offensive began, Netanyahu’s coalition government was teetering on collapse over internal tensions, particularly over plans to conscript ultra-Orthodox Jews.

Facing mounting criticism for his handling of the prolonged Gaza war and a hostage crisis dating back to Hamas’s October 2023 attack, Netanyahu’s leadership seemed on the brink. Now, with the war against Iran reshaping Israel’s political mood, Netanyahu’s approval ratings are rebounding. A new poll published by a conservative Israeli broadcaster shows 54% of respondents support the prime minister, up significantly from earlier weeks. “Netanyahu is greatly strengthened,” said Yonatan Freeman, a geopolitics expert at Hebrew University. “There’s broad public support for his argument that striking Iran preemptively was necessary.” Even opposition leader Yair Lapid backed the decision, calling the strike “the right one” in a Jerusalem Post op-ed. For Netanyahu, who has long warned of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, this war appears to be a defining moment.

“Israel is fighting for its survival and has a chance to reshape the Middle East,” he said before the strikes began. The Israeli leader’s international standing, badly damaged by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, has seen a shift. Since the Iran offensive began, European leaders have rallied behind him. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz even said Israel was doing “the dirty work… for all of us.” Yet analysts warn the support may be fleeting. “If the war drags on, public sentiment could turn again,” said Denis Charbit of Israel’s Open University. “Netanyahu is asserting his Churchillian image, but the final act is still unwritten.”