Likud fears Iranian attack: "Shelters and destroyed buildings could lead to Eisenkot's victory"

Likud sources fear that a military campaign against Iran before the October 27 elections will harm Likud and lead to Gadi Eisenkot's victory. Netanyahu conveyed a message to Washington to wait with the operation. The main concern: images of shelters and destroyed buildings in the Israeli home front will shift the public agenda.

Likud sources fear that a military campaign against Iran before the Knesset elections on October 27 will harm Likud and lead to Gadi Eisenkot's victory. According to sources familiar with the matter, Netanyahu conveyed a message from Jerusalem to Washington that Israel prefers that a military operation not begin before the election date. In internal conversations, Netanyahu raises two main considerations: first, the possibility of postponing elections in a state of emergency is not politically feasible; second, the cost of an Iranian response on the Israeli home front. Senior Likud officials say: "These are exactly the images we must not have. A country in shelters, casualties, destroyed buildings, wounded and killed, God forbid - this is what could lead to Eisenkot and his partners' victory." Assessments in the US point to the possibility of hundreds of ballistic missiles being launched toward Israel. Optimism in Likud relies on internal assessments, but public polls are mixed. Meanwhile, in Israel, it is assessed that the White House sought to distance Netanyahu from the discussion on Iran so as not to strengthen claims that Trump is influenced by him. Trump declared on October 8 that the US would not attack before the midterm elections on November 3, but later resumed threats.