Israeli Opposition Leader Supports Iran Strikes, Calls Conflict ‘Just War’

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid expressed support for Prime Minister Netanyahu's military strikes against Iran, describing the campaign as a 'just war against evil.' Despite being a fierce political rival, Lapid said he would set aside differences during the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid expressed strong support Saturday for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military action against Iran, characterizing the ongoing campaign as a ‘just war against evil.’

Joint strikes by the United States and Israel have targeted Iran’s senior leadership while demanding the government’s removal, prompting Iran to respond with multiple missile attacks against Israel and Gulf nations such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

‘We are going to stand united against this threat,’ Lapid stated during a Reuters interview in Tel Aviv, speaking shortly after exiting a bomb shelter when air raid sirens warned of an approaching Iranian assault.

According to Lapid, Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, nuclear development programs, and ideally the nation’s leadership should be ‘obliterated.’

Netanyahu and Israel’s broader political leadership have consistently maintained that Iran represents an existential danger to the Jewish state.

Despite serving briefly as prime minister in 2022 and maintaining fierce opposition to Netanyahu, Lapid announced he would temporarily suspend political disagreements with the current leader during this period of escalating tensions.

Lapid also expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for what he characterized as America’s leadership role in the Iranian operation, praising Trump’s display of courage.

The current conflict follows a surprise Israeli assault on Iran last June, which triggered a 12-day war between the regional powers that concluded when the United States joined Israel’s bombing campaign against Iran.

That previous confrontation resulted in over 30 Israeli deaths from Iranian missile strikes, including attacks on the densely populated Tel Aviv area, while Israeli military action killed more than 900 people in Iran.

When questioned about Israel’s ability to maintain a weeks-long or months-long conflict with Iran, Lapid emphasized that the country was ‘way stronger’ than commonly perceived, while expressing doubt about Iran’s capacity for sustained warfare.

Israel must conduct national elections by October, with current polling suggesting Netanyahu’s coalition government may struggle to maintain power despite his record as the nation’s longest-serving prime minister.

The opposition remains divided, though many factions aim to establish a government excluding Netanyahu. Surveys indicate Lapid’s Yesh Atid party could face seat losses in the upcoming election, though it may still play a crucial role in government formation.