How has Israel's opposition responded to the Iran conflict?

As Israel wages its most direct military confrontation with Iran to date, military exchanges have claimed at least 24 Israeli lives and over 220 Iranian casualties since the strikes began on 13 June.

The New Arab takes a look at how opponents of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government - Jewish and Palestinian, left, centre, and right - have responded to the conflict.

Centre

The political centre, represented by opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, has publicly backed Israel's air campaign against Iran. Despite their longstanding opposition to Netanyahu, both leaders have placed national unity above political rivalry.

Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid party and former prime minister, offered unequivocal support for the strikes, saying: "We didn’t rally behind the government. We rallied behind the necessity to operate on the moment that was inevitable."

Though he had recently called for Netanyahu's removal, Lapid emphasised that attacking Iran's nuclear infrastructure was, in his words, "the right thing to do". He clarified that while Netanyahu remained a "bitter political rival", he agreed with the decision to strike Iran.

Benny Gantz, leader of National Unity and former defence minister, echoed this stance, telling international media: "The decision to preemptively act against Iran was justified and necessary, and on that matter the Israeli opposition stands fully united with the coalition… any disagreements we may have will have to wait for other times."

Both men characterised the strikes as essential emergency actions, above party politics.

Left 

Far-left parties have taken a sharply critical stance. Hadash and the Communist Party of Israel (Maki) issued a joint statement opposing the Israeli attack outright.

"Hadash and Maki oppose the large-scale Israeli attack on Iran… We call for stopping what today appears to be the start of a dangerous war, which could involve the entire Middle East," they wrote.

They framed the action as aggressive government overreach that could engulf the region.

They remain the sole Jewish-led political grouping in the Knesset to openly reject the campaign. Other left-leaning parties like Meretz have stayed silent, either cautious or implicitly supportive.

Right

Naftali Bennett, former prime minister and right-wing advocate, endorsed the strikes and framed them as urgent national defence.

"There is no right, no left, no opposition and no coalition when it comes to preventing Iranian nukes… The State of Israel is working to remove the cancerous growth called the Iranian nuclear program that threatens our existence," he told Israeli media.

Bennett's position aligns with the broader Israeli right's longstanding support for military confrontation with Iran.

Palestinian Arab parties in the Knesset

Arab political parties have largely remained cautious or silent during the escalation, though some have seized the moment to highlight systemic neglect their communities face.

Ayman Odeh, former head of the Hadash-Ta'al alliance, spoke out after four Palestinian citizens were killed by an Iranian missile in Tamra, saying:

"Again and again, Arab citizens are left exposed while the government speaks only of unity. When missiles fall on Arab homes, we see  clearly who counts in this country and who doesn’t."

No direct statement has been issued by Mansour Abbas, leader of the Islamic-leaning United Arab List (Ra'am), but the party's general position in recent years has been one of strategic pragmatism.

Abbas has previously called for Arab participation in governance as a route to equality, and is unlikely to endorse a military campaign that enjoys little support among his base.

Wider Palestinian Arab reaction

Among Palestinian citizens of Israel and grassroots groups, opposition has been stronger. Civil society coalitions like Standing Together have organised anti-war protests calling for a ceasefire and warning of regional escalation.

Tensions deepened after reports that Arab towns lacked bomb shelters and early-warning systems, while Jewish areas were better protected.

A recent national poll showed only 12 percent of Arab citizens support the military offensive, compared to 83 percent of Jewish Israelis, highlighting a stark divide along ethnic lines.

Social media among Palestinian citizens has been filled with testimony, criticism of political silence, and mobilisations, revealing the trend of the growing political alienation of Palestinian citizens of Israel.