Israel backs US-Iran ceasefire but Netanyahu’s war goals remain unfulfilled

Israel Backs US-Iran Ceasefire but Netanyahu’s War Goals Remain Unfulfilled

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office expressed cautious approval of the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, signaling a shift from his earlier confidence. The announcement, driven by US President Donald Trump, contrasts with the triumphant claims from both Washington and Tehran, which asserted significant victories after five weeks of conflict. Despite the truce, Netanyahu emphasized that the peace is temporary, stating Israel has more objectives to pursue, whether through negotiated terms or renewed combat.

At the war’s outset, Netanyahu declared the “goal of the operation is to put an end to the threat from the Ayatollah regime in Iran,” vowing to continue until that aim was met. However, Iran’s military forces remain active, and its clerical leadership, though diminished by strikes, still holds power. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and key figures were eliminated, yet the nuclear program and uranium stockpiles remain unresolved. Throughout the conflict, Iran has persisted in launching missile attacks on Israel, with explosions and alerts reported in Jerusalem even after the truce was announced.

Netanyahu’s ambitious vision for the campaign has not materialized as expected. Anshel Pfeffer, a seasoned Israeli journalist and author of Netanyahu’s biography, noted that the prime minister referred to the ceasefire as a “suspension” rather than an end. He argued that Netanyahu’s reluctance to acknowledge the war’s conclusion could signal internal tensions with the US. “This failure is not good for him,” Pfeffer said, warning that the lack of Israeli influence in the agreement might lead to a “rift opening up with the Americans.”

Yair Lapid, head of Israel’s opposition party, called the situation “a political disaster in our entire history.” He criticized Netanyahu for not involving the country in critical security decisions, stating: “The army did everything they asked of it, the public displayed incredible resilience, but Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and did not meet any of the goals he himself set.” With Israeli elections approaching, Netanyahu’s potential loss of power within months looms as a key concern.

Shira Efron, an Israeli policy analyst at the RAND Corporation, highlighted the public’s expectation of regime change. “Netanyahu promised Israelis this campaign would end the Islamic regime,” she said. “But the snake turned into a hydra.” While Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure was targeted, the public’s perception of success remains mixed. Efron noted that the degradation of Iran’s capabilities, even at 70 or 80 per cent, has not significantly altered the threat Israelis face.

Yossi Kuperwasser, former Israeli military intelligence official and director of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, offered a more measured view. He argued that practical achievements were met, with Iran’s military production and leadership “decimated.” However, he acknowledged that unmet “wishful goals” — such as sparking a popular uprising or removing highly enriched uranium — had fueled the campaign’s rationale. “We couldn’t guarantee those outcomes,” he said, but the tangible results still mark progress in the conflict.