Israel: “React harshly, but avoid war”

Israel is certain that it must respond decisively to Iran’s attack. But everyone agrees: their own reaction should not trigger another war – also because there is a threat of a fight on a third war front.

“We are looking ahead and considering our steps,” Israel’s top officer, Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi, remained deliberately vague on Tuesday after another crisis summit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a “smart reaction”. You have to react “with your head, not your gut”. And further: “The Iranians must be as nervous as they made us nervous.”

But when, with what means and to what extent Israel will react – people in Jerusalem continued to remain silent about it. No wonder: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under massive pressure. The far right fringe of his coalition is pushing for a quick and hard counterattack. Many Western partners, especially the USA, are warning of a conflagration.

Observers are therefore certain that in order not to offend its allies, Israel could delay a possible retaliatory strike. “It would make sense to maintain this almost unprecedented Western, Sunni and Israeli defense alliance, so it’s more towards restraint,” says Calev Ben-Dor, a former adviser in the Israeli Foreign Ministry. “At the same time, in the Middle East you cannot be attacked by more than 300 missiles and drones and do nothing,” the expert adds.

Ben-Dor therefore expects that the Israeli government will wait at least two weeks before reacting. In any case, Tehran is preparing for Israel’s reaction: According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the regime has temporarily closed its nuclear facilities for “security reasons.”