Podcast Summary: Today in Focus – The Latest

Episode: What is Netanyahu’s endgame in Iran war?
Date: March 27, 2026
Host: Lucy Hough
Guest: Emma Graham-Harrison, Guardian Chief Middle East Correspondent

Overview

This episode explores Israel’s ongoing war with Iran, focusing on internal public opinion, Benjamin Netanyahu’s precarious political situation, and the broader regional consequences. Host Lucy Hough and correspondent Emma Graham-Harrison provide insightful analysis into how Netanyahu’s war efforts are perceived domestically, the impact on his political survival, and the repercussions for Gaza, the West Bank, and the region at large.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Overwhelming Israeli Support for the Iran War

• Early and Sustained Support:
  • Polls show over 90% of Jewish Israelis support the war with Iran, “which makes Israel a real outlier internationally” (Emma Graham-Harrison, 02:00).
• Contrast with Other Conflicts:
  • Israelis have been much more skeptical of Netanyahu’s Gaza policy, but with Iran, there is a "sense among those who support it that this is a kind of immediate pain and suffering and risk that people are going through in order to secure... long term security" (Emma, 02:33–03:31).
• Life Amid Conflict:
  • Daily life heavily disrupted (homeschooling, air raids, shelter shortages), yet support persists due to perceived existential threat.

2. Lack of Visible Domestic Opposition

• Political Unity:
  • “The extraordinary thing is there is almost no opposition to this war inside Israel, at least inside... mainstream Jewish Israeli politics. Really, people have... set aside their campaigning, their disputes on other issues to support this war overwhelmingly” (Emma, 03:52).
• Security and Intelligence Skepticism:
  • Off-record, establishment figures express doubts:
    • No genuine plan for regime change in Iran; such goals are "wishful thinking."
    • Success measured by control over Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.
    • Concern over risks to the vital US-Israeli relationship.

3. Netanyahu’s Political Calculus and Vulnerability

• Election Looms:
  • Upcoming election is the first chance for Israelis to judge leadership post–October 7.
  • Despite support for the war, Netanyahu’s personal polling remains weak.
  • “Israelis are happy he decided to go to war, but they still don't want him to carry on being prime minister” (Emma, 05:53, repeated emphasis 00:46/07:36).
• Personal Stakes:
  • Netanyahu faces corruption charges and an ICC arrest warrant.
  • “He is obviously very keen to avoid taking the stand without the protections that being prime minister offers him” (Emma, 07:53).

4. Shifting Global Attention and Gaza’s Forgotten Catastrophe

• War as a Diversion:
  • War with Iran has diverted diplomatic and media attention away from the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
  • “All the attention... trying to turn Trump's plan for Gaza into some kind of... enduring peace, has been completely distracted. It’s been... put elsewhere. Literally” (Emma, 08:37).
• Dire Humanitarian Situation:
  • Hundreds have died since the supposed ceasefire.
  • Severe shortages of aid, entire populations confined to just 40% of the territory.
  • The infamous “yellow line”—described as a “kill line”—shrinks Gaza’s habitable area dramatically (Lucy, 09:35).

5. West Bank and Lebanon: Escalation and Expansion

• Surge in Violence:
  • Not just settler violence; Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least ten Palestinians in the West Bank since the war started.
  • "Extraordinary call" from former Israeli PM for ICC intervention to stop "Jewish terrorism" and ethnic cleansing (Emma, 10:00).
• Southern Lebanon:
  • Israel hints at creating a “security zone,” reminiscent of rhetoric used for Gaza and the West Bank.
  • Displacement and violence echo past occupations, despite international legal prohibitions (Emma, 11:28).
• Missed Peace Opportunities:
  • Israeli military solutions are contrasted with durable negotiated borders with Egypt and Jordan, which ensure real security but are “taken for granted... [they] don't seem to be seen as models” (Emma, 12:47).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Israeli public opinion and Netanyahu:
  • “Basically, Israelis are happy he decided to go to war, but they still don't want him to carry on being prime minister.” (Emma Graham-Harrison, 00:46, 05:53, 07:36)
• On the unprecedented political unity:
  • “Politicians have set aside their campaigning, their disputes on other issues to support this war overwhelmingly.” (Emma, 03:52)
• On the impact of war on Gaza:
  • “All the attention that was going into trying to turn Trump's plan for Gaza into some kind of enduring peace, has been completely distracted. It's been, you know, put elsewhere. Literally.” (Emma, 08:37)
• On the West Bank violence:
  • “The situation has got so bad... that we saw an extraordinary call from the former Prime Minister of Israel... demanding ICC intervention, so calling for the International Criminal Court to intervene to save Palestinians and us Israelis. That was his words, from 'Jewish terrorism.'” (Emma, 10:00)
• On Israel’s approach to security:
  • “If you look at the two borders on which Israel does have some form of security, they’re borders where you had negotiated ends to conflicts... They certainly don't seem to be seen as models that could be followed to seek long term stability. Instead, there's just this focus on endless wars.” (Emma, 12:47)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:46] Unusually high Israeli public support for the Iran war, but no political upside for Netanyahu
• [02:00] Over 90% support among Jewish Israelis, despite war disruptions
• [03:52] Absence of political opposition; intelligence community doubts about achievable goals
• [05:53] Netanyahu’s political strategizing and upcoming election
• [07:36] Netanyahu’s corruption trial and personal motivations
• [08:37] War’s diversion of attention from Gaza; worsening humanitarian crisis
• [10:00] Surge in West Bank killings; former Israeli PM calls for ICC intervention
• [11:28] Israeli actions in southern Lebanon; expansion of displacement strategy
• [12:47] Contrast between negotiated borders and perpetual wars

Tone and Language

The conversation is analytical and sober, focusing on nuanced public attitudes, political calculations, and the tragic human and legal consequences of the conflict. Emma Graham-Harrison brings direct on-the-ground insights, while Lucy Hough guides the discussion with concise, probing questions.

Final Takeaway

Despite overwhelming public backing for the war with Iran, Netanyahu’s political future remains bleak—his support for the war hasn’t translated into trust or popularity. The war serves as both a diversion from his legal and political troubles and a distraction from the worsening situation in Gaza and the West Bank, with violence and displacement now spreading to Lebanon. Negotiated peace, while proven successful with other neighbours, is sidelined in favour of ongoing conflict—raising critical questions about long-term security and stability in the region.