Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing growing political pressure as reports emerge that his government is preparing for another possible military confrontation with Iran.
With his coalition having lost its parliamentary majority, Netanyahu faces the prospect of losing power while opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot attempts to form a new government.
Israeli media report that Netanyahu’s security cabinet has instructed the military to increase preparations for potential strikes against Iran. The reports come despite objections from opposition figures and concerns within Israel’s military establishment about the risk of a wider regional war.
Netanyahu has also reportedly contacted US President Donald Trump repeatedly to press for renewed military action against Tehran.
Could a New War Help Netanyahu Remain in Power?
Netanyahu’s political opponents have accused him of considering military escalation against Iran as a way to disrupt the transition of power and prolong his premiership.
Eisenkot and other opposition figures have warned against launching major military operations during the caretaker period without an immediate security threat.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu has pushed for a national unity government that would include his Likud party. If Eisenkot fails to assemble a governing coalition, another election could become necessary.
Ahron Bregman, an Israeli political analyst at King’s College London, told Al Jazeera that a renewed confrontation with Iran could create the national emergency needed to pressure opposition parties into joining a unity government.
“A little war could compel Eisenkot & Co” Ahron Bregman, speaking to Al Jazeera
Bregman argued that Netanyahu’s political future was increasingly uncertain and that a unity government might offer him a route to remaining in office.
Why Israel’s Opposition Might Still Support a War
Despite opposition accusations that renewed military action could serve Netanyahu’s political interests, analysts believe another war with Iran might still attract broad support within Israel.
Haggai Ram, a professor at Ben-Gurion University and author of Iranophobia, told Al Jazeera that hostility towards Iran is deeply embedded in Israeli political and security thinking.
He argued that even politicians who believe Netanyahu is exploiting the threat for political advantage might support military action once a conflict begins.
Former military figures within the opposition have spent much of their careers preparing for potential confrontation with Iran. Meanwhile, decades of warnings about Tehran’s nuclear programme and its regional allies have shaped public attitudes.
According to Ram, this makes Iran a politically exceptional issue, capable of overriding divisions between Netanyahu and his opponents.
Decades of Conflict Have Shaped Public Expectations
Israel and Iran have been engaged in a prolonged regional confrontation involving military threats, intelligence operations and Iran-aligned armed groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Netanyahu has repeatedly warned since the 1990s that Iran was approaching nuclear weapons capability.
These tensions escalated after October 7, 2023, as Israel expanded military operations across the region.
A 12-day confrontation between Israel and Iran in June 2025 was followed by a joint US-Israeli military campaign in February 2026.
The conflict disrupted major shipping routes, unsettled global markets and increased economic pressure across the region.
Netanyahu’s Political and Legal Pressures
Netanyahu’s efforts to retain power are unfolding alongside multiple ongoing criminal cases against him and growing opposition to his political leadership.
Daniel Bar-Tal, a political psychologist at Tel Aviv University, suggested that another confrontation with Iran could create the political turmoil Netanyahu needs to improve his position.
Bar-Tal nevertheless questioned whether Trump would permit Israel to undermine Washington’s negotiations with Tehran by launching another conflict.
Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir has also reportedly resisted proposals for renewed attacks, warning that they risk triggering a wider war.
Ram said many Israelis already regard another confrontation with Iran as inevitable. He suggested that even those who suspect political motives behind a renewed campaign could still support it once military operations begin.
Source: Al Jazeera, 13 November 2026 . Original reporting and analysis by Simon Speakman Cordall.
