In the current political climate of Israel, while the majority of Jewish parties—including those led by Benjamin Netanyahu’s critics such as Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid and Benny Gantz’s National Unity—express support for military strikes on Iran, significant opposition voices are emerging. Among these dissenting groups, Arab-Israeli parties are notably vocal. The left-wing Jewish-Arab coalition Hadash, which champions peace and equality, has condemned the campaign as “aggressive and reckless.” Aida Touma-Suleiman, an Arab member of the Knesset representing Hadash, cautioned that the conflict could spell “another disaster for both the Iranian and Israeli people.”
Another prominent opponent is the Communist Party of Israel (Maki), a key component of Hadash, which joined in a joint statement opposing the Israeli attack on Iran. Maki warned that what appears to be the beginning of a large-scale war could engulf the entire Middle East in violence. This makes Hadash-Maki the only Jewish-led Knesset faction openly rejecting the military actions against Iran. Public opinion polls reveal a stark divide along ethnic lines: only 12% of Arab Israelis support the strikes, compared to 83% of Jewish Israelis, while 65% of the Arab population disapproves of both the attack and its timing.
Some Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jewish groups also exhibit reluctance toward war. Their traditional exemptions from military service have recently been challenged by a Supreme Court ruling, exacerbating tensions within these communities and fostering a cautious stance on further military engagements. Beyond political parties, grassroots civil society groups such as Standing Together are actively contesting the pro-war narrative, warning of the potential for a devastating regional conflict that could escalate beyond current borders.
