April 17, 2026 at 9:36 am

Dozens of Israelis carrying placards and banners gather at Paris Square to protest the ongoing attacks by the US and Israel on Iran and Lebanon, calling for an end to the war in West Jerusalem, on April 11, 2026. [Saeed Qaq – Anadolu Agency]

A former Israeli General close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of the strategic and political consequences of the ongoing conflict, saying a military confrontation with Iran is not in Israel’s interest.

Major General (res.) Giora Eiland, former head of Israel’s National Security Council, said in remarks reported by Israeli media platform Walla that Israel’s international standing has sharply declined over the past three years, adding that the war in Gaza is the main driver of this deterioration.

He said the prevailing view among political circles in Europe and the United States is that Netanyahu has drawn Washington into an unnecessary confrontation.

Eiland added that these tensions have caused tangible harm to the global economy and threatened its stability, fuelling international public opinion against Israeli policies.

He stressed that the erosion of Israel’s standing is no longer limited to international institutions but has become “clear and evident” within the United States, Israel’s closest ally.

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