Why a new war now? What do you want Israel and Iran in the conflict?

Evaluation is corroborated by other analysts, who point out that Israel also considered attacks as “opportunity” to improve their own image and “take the focus of Gaza.” This is what, in consensus, the internationalists Denilde Holzhacker and Roberto Uebel, teachers of international relations at ESPM, Kai Enno Lehmann, professor at IRI-USP (Institute of International Relations of the University of São Paulo), and Karina Stange Calandrin, researcher and teacher of IBMEC.

Netanyahu was in an internal negotiation position, almost losing the majority in the internal coalition that supports him (in the Israeli parliament) and with a very strong pressure from more conservative groups so that he had a tougher position compared to Iran, which is the military power seen as the biggest threat to Israel today. On the other hand, it is also a way to take the focus off Gaza and the target Israeli actions of international criticism. This is what Netanyahu usually does, promoting an external action that knows that will have greater international support, to drown out another. Denilde Holzhacker

Israel’s attacks against Iran so far seem to have an internal political purpose for the Netanyahu government, which is to focus on issues involving the Gaza Strip, as well as demonstrating international strength and destabilizing the Iranian regime. Roberto Uebel

The Israeli government was in crisis, with a real possibility of falling. At the same time, there was pressure from the far right to the Netanyahu government to punish and bombard Iran. So, in terms of holding the government in power, starting these attacks against the Iranian regime, which today faces many internal and external difficulties, helped. (…) There was an opportunity from an Israeli point of view, and if I wanted to do something against Iran, now it would be the ideal time. Kai Enno Lehmann

Why now?! Since the discussion about Iran’s nuclear program is old, the attack has taken place at this time is very much about what is happening to Israel’s internal policy. The Israeli government has been at war in the Gaza Strip for almost two years and this has not been popular internally. The population of Israel has manifested themselves against the war almost daily and the Netanyahu government have lost a lot of support, including political allies. Karina Stange Calandrin

This is not the first time Israel has tried to achieve popularity through war attacks, adds Calandrin. She recalls that another attack promoted by the Israeli government to attract internal support occurred last year, with bombings that aimed to reach Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and killed hundreds of people. “His popularity has climbed a little at that time and he is betting that he will rise again now, to distem with the coalition parties and be able to stay in power another time,” says Ibemec teacher, who is also a researcher at the UNESP International Defense and Security Study Group.