Gaza War Could Pave the Way for Israeli Attack on Iran

'Show of Strength' Against Tiny Strip Aimed at Proving Military Readiness

by Jason Ditz, November 16, 2012

Air strikes are escalating and Israel seems to be on the verge of sending a ground invasion force into Gaza Strip. All eyes are on Gaza, but perhaps not Benjamin Netanyahu’s eyes, which remain squarely on Iran.

And indeed, even the escalations against Gaza are looking more and more like part of a broader strategy to sell the public on a future attack on Iran, with officials touting the rag-tag militias in the tiny, besieged strip as Iran’s “front line.”

The war’s ability to shift the Israeli voters dramatically rightward has already been discussed, and right before the election this could impact the next Israeli cabinet meaningfully, piecing together an even more hawkish force.

At the same time, officials are looking to convince the public that the “show of strength” demonstrates military readiness for attacking Iran, suggesting that their ability to bomb a tiny enclave on their border is not materially any different from bombing a massive nation much farther away. How well they can sell the myth of the invincible Israeli military by bombing refugee camps remains to be seen, but could play a major role in shifting voter sentiment back toward a unilateral attack.

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