Against the backdrop of the multi-front war and mounting security tensions on the eve of Passover, Israel's security establishment and political leadership are grappling with a series of challenges, from the fighting in Iran and Lebanon to unresolved questions surrounding the nuclear program and criticism over the government's conduct and the state budget. These are the five main issues occupying decision-makers.
Iran: The Israeli Air Force is nearing the point at which it will have exhausted its bank of essential targets in Iran and may soon shift to secondary ones. That points to the depth of the damage inflicted on infrastructure, particularly in the field of weapons production. Even so, major question marks remain. The central one concerns the fate of roughly 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, a key objective of the war for Israel and, in its early stages, for the US as well. In Washington, however, attention has for now shifted to other issues, including the Strait of Hormuz and oil prices. In Israel, there is concern over a scenario in which the campaign ends with Iran managing to leverage its weakness to its advantage. President Donald Trump has again warned that Tehran must choose between an agreement and severe damage, but for now Iran does not appear to be rushing to comply.
Lebanon: In northern Israel, the campaign is far from simple and could develop into a prolonged confrontation. The assessment is that Hezbollah has prepared for combat better than expected, and that the blows dealt to its commanders and infrastructure have not paralyzed its operations. The coordinated launches from Iran and Lebanon point to at least partial coordination between the sides in an effort to challenge Israel's air defense array and strike infrastructure in Israel. In the military, officials estimate that the volume of fire could increase over Passover, necessitating the need to address the Israeli home front.
Budget: Approval of the state budget was accompanied by sharp criticism, mainly over the transfer of hundreds of millions of shekels to Haredi institutions at the last minute. The move came during ongoing fighting, while the IDF is operating on several fronts simultaneously and the home front is dealing with the economic and security repercussions. Critics say the move reflects a disconnect from the priorities of the moment, given the hardships facing reservists, business owners and the wider public.
Haredim: Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman MK Boaz Bismuth (Likud) appealed to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, demanding that he reverse the removal of the Netzah Yehuda reserve battalion from operational activity following the incident involving a CNN crew. In his letter, Bismuth argued that the problem lay in the very presence of journalists in combat zones and that the soldiers had not received sufficient backing. The remarks are drawing criticism, in part given Bismuth's professional background as a journalist and the tension surrounding the issue of military conscription and the need to strengthen the IDF's manpower.
