'Now or later': War cabinet debates retaliatory strike on Iran

The "military" cabinet convened a meeting at 3:30 PM to discuss the overnight attack on Israel and the country's response.

It's unlikely that ministers will immediately decide on a military retaliation against Iran, as US President Joe Biden strongly advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off, stating that "no significant harm has been done," according to US media reports.

However, many ministers and members of the "war cabinet" are pushing for a strong response to Iran's unprecedented missile and drone attack. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich emphasized the importance of Israel's response, stating, "The eyes of the Middle East and the world are on Israel. Our response will shape the region for generations to come. If we act decisively, we will prevail. If we hesitate, we risk our immediate safety and that of our children. It's time for leaders who can restore Israel's deterrence and ensure the security of its citizens."

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stressed the need for an immediate and decisive response to the Iranian attack. He stated, "To maintain stability in the Middle East, we must act decisively. Israel's response cannot be limited to symbolic gestures like the airstrikes we've seen in Gaza in the past. The concept of a 'proportional response' no longer applies in this world after October 7."

On the other hand, Gideon Saar urged restraint, advocating for strategic patience. He said, "Israel should not rush to retaliate and disrupt the established order of priorities. We must refocus our efforts on Gaza."

Benny Gantz echoed a similar sentiment, stating, "Iran has faced the full force of Israeli defense. Iran poses a threat to the world, and together with our allies, we must confront this danger. Our work is not done; we must strengthen our strategic alliances and regional cooperation. We will form a coalition against Iran and compel them to pay the consequences at the appropriate time. We must remember our unfinished tasks – the return of captives and eliminating threats to the residents of northern and southern Israel."

Avigdor Lieberman, not part of the government or the "military" cabinet, expressed a similar view. He stated, "The question is not whether Israel should respond to Iran's attack, but when. The pressure from the US, France, the UK, and Germany to refrain from retaliating must be taken into account. We must also consider our engagements in the south, where we battle Hamas, and in the north, where we confront Hezbollah. We also face threats from the Houthis in Yemen. In my opinion, we must leverage our success to work with anti-Iranian coalition members to complete military operations in these three areas in the specified order – first, clearing Gaza; then, striking Hezbollah militants to push them back beyond the Litani River; and finally, launching a coordinated attack against the Houthis in the Red Sea targeting commercial ships."

He concluded, "I reiterate: Israel not only has the right to respond to an Iranian attack but is obligated to do so at the appropriate time. Iran lacks the air defense capabilities that Israel possesses. We can target any object within Iranian territory."

Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar criticized the delayed response to Iranian aggression, describing it as an extension of outdated logic against brutal terrorists. He argued that this approach failed against Hamas, leading to the massacre on October 7 and the mass evacuation of residents from southern and northern Israel.

Government Secretary Yossi Fuchs instructed ministers not to comment or give interviews regarding the Iranian attack on Israel and a potential Israeli response.