Israel did not comply with international rules in the attack on Iran. Yet it is quite understandable from an Israeli perspective that the country opened the attack, experts say to NU.nl.
Since a week there has been a big battle between Israel and Iran, in which the first -mentioned country opened the attack and currently has a considerable predominance. Israel attacked because Iran could make a nuclear weapon in the short term.
Shortly after the attack, experts with whom Nu.nl spoke that Israel has violated international law. What it comes down to: the fact that Iran Israel may ever attack with nuclear weapons, Israel did not yet give the right to attack in advance. That is only the time that an Iranian attack is really imposed.
The international law is therefore clear about that. But if you look at how Israel experiences the situation, then an attack does feel as a “logical” step, say university teacher Anthropology Eralla Grassiani and assistant professor Peter Malcontent. “Iran has been portrayed by the Israeli government since the 1990s as the great enemy of Israel,” says Grassiani.
Many Israelis have come to believe that. In addition, according to Malcontent, Iran has often expressed anything but friendly about Israel. He says that a similar picture has been spread in Iran. “Israel has been seen there for a long time as a big enemy. High Iranian officials have expressed themselves very fiercely about Israel in the past, often anti -Semitic.”
‘Safety is almost a sacred thing in Israel’
Grassiani, born in Israel, says that most Israelis did not experience a daily feeling of threat from Iran until the attack. But if the government says that there is an acute threat, then almost everyone believes that. “Safety is almost a sacred thing in Israel. Facts will soon not matter anymore.”
The expert is referring to the fact that you can wonder whether Iran was really very close to a nuclear weapon, as Israel claims. “Israel says he has evidence for this, but does not share that. So we cannot check whether it is,” says Malcontent. Other experts said about the same to Nu.nl.
Malcontent and Grassiani both see that the support in Israel is great for the attack. Only a small minority within the Israeli population is against it. The opposition supports the government’s actions, which is not always the case.
‘Attack helps with association Israeli people’
Grassiani sees several motifs behind Israel’s attack on Iran, and why it is taking place now. First of all, such an attack helps with the Association of the Israeli people, which has recently been divided over more and more subjects, such as the Gaza Strip. A joint enemy provides unity.
And that can use Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu well, now that there is more and more criticism of him. The attack can have a positive effect on its popularity, and with it his chances of survival as Israeli Prime Minister.
“And the attack also changes how people look at Israel abroad,” says Grassiani. “More and more Western countries are more critical of Israel because of the genocidal violence in the Gaza Strip. But that is not about that anymore.”
Only a few countries responded critically to the Israeli attack on Iran. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen all took the word self-defense.
But the question of whether increased popularity is permanent
Malcontent says that the attack may have been implemented due to a sense of threat from Iran. But according to the expert, it is almost impossible that there have also been domestic reasons.
“If we look at how Israel has performed in Gaza in recent years, you can only conclude that it has been done to protect the position of the current government. In that light, it is not surprising to think that the same is playing with Iran.”
Malcontent, who joins the lecture by Grassiani about the motives of Israel, sees that it seems to work for now. Since the attack, Netanyahu has risen slightly in the polls. “But the attack is also a huge risk. Netanyahu can now become more popular, but that does not have to stay that way if the unrest with Iran lasts longer.”
Israel Did Not Adhere to International Rules in the Attack On Iran. Nevertheless, from An Israeli Perspective, It is Quite Understandable that the Country Launched the Attack, experts Tell Nu.nl.
For a week now, there has been a major conflict between Israel and Iran, with the former launching the attack and current having a significant advantage. Israel attacked because it fears that iran could develop a nuclear weapon in the short term.
Shortly after the attack, experts who spoke to nu.nl concluded that Israel had violated international law. The Bottom Line: The Fact That Iran Might Someday Attack Israel With Nuclear Weapons Did Not Give Israel The Right to Attack in Advance. That is only allowed when an iranian attack is truly immant.
International Law is very clear about this. But if you look at How Israel Experiences The Situation, An Attack Does Feel Like A “Logical” Step, Accordination to ERLAGE GRASSIANI, Associate Professor of Anthropology, and Peter Malcontent, University Lecturer. “Iran Has Been portrayed by the Israeli Government as Israel’s Great Enemy Since the 1990s,” Says Grassiani.
Many Israelis have come to believe that. Accordance to Malcontent, Iran Has Often Spoken About Israel in Anything But a Friendly Manner. He says that a similar image has leg spread in Iran. “There, Israel Has Long Been Seen as a Great Enemy. High Iranian Officials Have Spoken Very Harshly About Israel In The Past, or Anti-Semitic.”
‘Safety is Almost Sacred in Israel’
Grassiani, who was born in Israel, Says That Most Israelis Did Not Experience A Daily Sense of Threat From Iran Until the Attack. But if the government’s there is an acute threat, almost everyone believes it. “Safety is Almost Sacred in Israel. Facts Quickly Become irrelevant.”
The Expert is referring to the fact that you can wonder whether iran was really very close to a nuclear weapon, as Israel Claims. “Israel says it has evidence for this, but does not share it. So we cannot verify white it is true,” Says malcontent. Other experts Said Roughly the Same To Nu.nl Earlier.
Malcontent and Grassiani Both See That Support in Israel for the Attack is Great. Only a Small Minority Within the Israeli Population is Against It. The Opposition Supports The Government’s Actions, which is not always the case.
‘Attack Helps to Unite the Israeli People’
Grassiani sees SEEVERAL MOTIVES Behind Israel’s Attack on Iran, and Why It is Taking Place Now. First of All, Such an Attack Helps to Unite the Israeli People, Who Have Recently Become Divided on More and More Subjects, Such as the Gaza Strip. A Common Enemy Creates Unity.
And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Can Use That Well, Now That There is Increasing Criticism of Him. The Attack Can Have A Positive Effect on His Popularity, And Thus His Chances of Survival As Israeli Prime Minister.
“And the Attack also Changes How Israel is Viewed Abroad,” Says Grassiani. “More and more western country critical or Israel because of the genocidal violence in the gaza strip. But that is no longer the issue now.”
Few Countries Reacted Critically to the Israeli Attack On Iran. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen All Used the Word Self-Defense.
But the Question of WHETER INCREASED Popularity is Lasting
Malcontent Says That The Attack May Well Have Been Carried Out because a Feeling of Threat From Iran. But accordance to the expert, IT is Almost Certain That Were also Domestic Reasons Beind It.
“If we look at how Israel has acted in gaza in recent years, you cannot help conclude that this was also done to protect the position of the current government. In that light, it is not strange to think that the same with iran.”
Malcontent, Who AGREES With Grassiani’s Interpretation of Israel’s Motives, Sees That this Seems to Be Working for Now. Since the Attack, Netanyahu Has risen Slightly in the Polls. “But the Attack is also a huge risk. Netanyahu May Become More Popular Now, But That May not Remain the Case If the Unrest with Iran Continues for Longer.”