Israel Cannot Afford a Long War With Iran – or Abandon Its People Again
The public wants total victory over a longtime foe, but it's worth remembering the damage Israel suffered in the last Iran war, just eight months ago
On Saturday morning, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Israel launched an attack on Iran in coordination with the United States. The Home Front Command declared a nationwide state of emergency and closed the country's airspace. Eliminating the threat posed by Iran is a worthy goal.
A regime that threatens another state with annihilation, advances the construction of nuclear infrastructure and ballistic missiles and massacres thousands of its own people for protesting its oppression is not an innocent partner for negotiations. The fact that the United States is a full partner in the operation reinforces Israel's power and gives it an important strategic advantage.
But recognizing the Iranian threat does not render redundant the questions of whether Israel is prepared for a prolonged war and whether the public, which has not yet recovered from the previous round in June, is not once again being sent to the front while the home front is exposed. Israelis must be reminded that Operation Lion's Roar is a war of choice, launched just eight months after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proudly declared "victory" in Operation Rising Lion.
The damage from that war has not yet been mended. A Haaretz report found that hundreds of people have not yet returned to their homes in cities damaged in the previous Iran war, and dozens of buildings that were destroyed or seriously damaged have not been rebuilt or made fit for habitation. Even State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, whom no one suspects of being overly critical of the government, warned of failures on the home front.
And yet, the public has not been shown an orderly reconstruction plan or general evacuation plan for a lengthy campaign. In fact, Israel is going to war with hundreds of thousands of civilians still not properly protected.
The public mood is full of calls for total victory, for the overthrow of the Iranian regime and the elimination of its nuclear and missile programs, but no one can predict the human cost of the operation. Will the northern front reopen? How many missiles will penetrate the defenses? How many civilians will be injured, how many buildings destroyed, how many families made homeless once again?
Meanwhile, the large call-up of reservists reminds us once again of the unequal burden and that the draft still does not yet apply to the entire public. This is a moral disgrace: A government that includes ultra-Orthodox parties that make massive efforts so that their voters can avoid military service, and that is led by a prime minister who promotes and supports this disgrace, is asking the public to trust its decisions and judgment.
To accomplish the objectives of the war against Iran – eliminating the threat and increasing security – the attack must be accompanied by a responsible policy that is limited in time and goals. We must be careful not to be dragged into a prolonged war; we must be careful not to harm civilians unnecessarily – including in Iran, where millions of innocent people live. Above all, we must be careful not to abandon the home front again.