What’s next after Iran, Mr. Netanyahu?

Devastation grows as Iran targets Israel’s civilian areas, despite interceptors and shelters

Prime Minister Netanyahu…I can trust you have been safely living in your high tech bunker. The 8 year old and 10 year old, along with an increasing number of adults killed by Iranian missiles, apparently were not. Adding Iran to your multifront never ending war may well be the final overextension of your political ‘power.’

Israelis are now getting a very small but powerful taste of the random destruction and death you and your coalition have continued to push in Gaza. The war against Hamas started with a uniquely powerful justification which you then turned it into a purposeless slaughter. As a result, only you and your coalition could have lost (most of) the world’s empathy for 10/7 so quickly. And exactly as in the war against Hamas, your maximalist stated goals for the attack on Iran are nonsensical.

Though I do not support it and would not have recommended the current attack on Iran, I also can understand the timing and specific reasons to the first round of Israel’s attack on Iran which took out numerous high level military, political and scientific officials with key strategic sites.

Iran is weak internally and externally. It is abhorred by a majority of its citizens. Israel has largely emasculated its primary proxies from Hamas to Hezbollah, who had probably been the most powerful militia group globally. The Houthis remain but are not an existential risk at this time. But neither did Netanyahu believe this of Hamas – until it was. Israel’s attack on Iran should have also made clear to its ancient theocrats the degree of intelligence Israel has and will continue to generate from within Iran.

After those well focused first 24 hours or so, this action against Iran should have ended with success declared. Because it was…but now isn’t. The potential to resume is always in place.

The Islamofascist gerontocracy which rules Iran has persisted in its genocidal threats and efforts to destroy Israel while brutalizing their own citizens. Now, however, Israel’s continued attack is more likely to temporarily give those ancient rulers a surge of citizen support. Israel would have been much better served through a limited and highly targeted campaign in Iran as was done with Hezbollah.

But Netanyahu and his extremist coalition continues with a maximalist model regardless of the logic or coherence. Regardless of the clear lack of rational objectives. Regardless of the possibility of authentic success. Israel has now greatly impeded Iran’s push for nuclear weapons but cannot stop it anymore than it can totally ‘eliminate’ Hamas. In fact, a result of this attack may well be for Iran to expedite the process towards building nuclear weapons any way it can.

Netanyahu and his apocalyptic Jewish supremacist coalition must be reigned in. Netanyahu must resign with elections called immediately. Otherwise, he will continue a never-ending war in every direction primarily to stay in the PM office and keep his violent coalition together. Netanyahu’s actions have little to do with Israel’s current security and future stability but are, in fact, dramatically counterproductive.

The goal of Smotrich, Ben Gvir, Katz and others is to ultimately have Jewish resettlement in Gaza – is neither reasonable nor coherent while being unconditionally self destructive. The goal for attacking Iran was largely met in the first 24 hours and should have then ended.

What’s next after Iran, Mr. Netanyahu?