On the Lebanese front, the Israel Defense Forces struck deep in northeastern Lebanon on Sunday, hitting what it called a “significant weapons manufacturing site” belonging to Hezbollah. The Lebanese group fired an estimated 40 rockets at northern Israel during the Iranian attack, according to the IDF.
There is growing pressure on Netanyahu from ultra-nationalists and far-right parties in his governing coalition for a big response. Itamar Ben-Gvir, national security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the country’s finance minister, are both urging the Israeli leader not to be swayed by U.S. officials who are cautioning him over retaliation.
“Bibi is listening to everyone and he’ll try to balance all the demands on him but I can’t see him refraining from some retaliation,” a government official, granted anonymity in order to speak freely, told POLITICO.
“There is a realization that this is a turning point that will benefit Israel diplomatically if handled well,” the official continued. “The attack has ripped away the mask and shown the world what Iran is and we don’t want any of our actions to distract from that. This is an opportunity for us to build a much stronger anti-Iran coalition, if we play smart. So, yes, there will be retaliation, I don’t see how Bibi can not do so, but it won’t be all guns blazing; it will be more limited and measured to make a point, and not to offend our allies who helped us so much last night.”
War Cabinet minister Benny Gantz hinted at the same thing, saying in a statement: “We will build a regional coalition and exact the price from Iran in the fashion and timing that is right for us.”
Danny Danon, a former Israeli envoy to the United Nations, told POLITICO a counter-strike of some kind was inevitable. “In our neighborhood, it would be irresponsible not to retaliate after such an unprecedented attack from Iran against Israel,” he argued.
Danon, now a Likud lawmaker who twice has challenged Netanyahu for the leadership of the party and may do so again, added: “We know that Iran is behind all their proxies, and this is the first time they decided to attack us directly. We have no other way but to send a clear message that it was a mistake, that will not be accepted by us. Not to retaliate will bring yet another attack from Tehran.”
