自周六起，以色列一直处于战时状态。学校、企业和聚会已至少停办一周。拥有防空室的居民在其中待了很长时间，而很多人则在车库或避难所里。伊朗发射了数百枚弹道导弹；至少有两枚直接击中了平民区，最初几天共造成10人死亡。据报道，袭击节奏从周六几乎每小时一次降至周二约6次，其它地区也出现了类似下降。刊登人Yoel Esteron认为德黑兰可能存活，但可能被严重削弱，其导弹库存被消耗殆尽；这种压力可能推动阿拉伯邻国走向与以色列的正常化关系。
目前没有明确迹象显示伊朗投降；美以打击仍在升级。真主党从黎巴嫩以无人机和导弹回应，以色列部队因此跨越边界。迄今公众支持仍然相当广泛。自2023年10月7日以来，以色列持续实行“不给对方喘息”的原则。某天伊朗导弹在耶路撒冷附近击毙9人时，Benjamin Netanyahu从地堡出来，感谢Donald Trump总统，并称赞部队据称清除了Ali Khamenei，称战争将确保以色列的未来。他正在竞选连任，专栏作者Nahum Barnea在论述中将问题框定为这次也许Trump与Netanyahu都可能是对的。在Purim节前后，伴随以斯帖记中波斯王拯救叙事的象征意义，这种象征具有政治力量，加强了“以色列神圣使命”与选举动员的主张。
At least a dozen countries are reported to be in the conflict. Iran’s Red Crescent says deaths are above 700, US citizens are urged to leave, thousands of flights were canceled, and oil prices rose as markets fell. In Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market, fish seller Yossi Batesh says business is subdued but ongoing, with some shutters down. The piece frames this against Iran’s roughly five-decade anti-Israel posture: Tehran has armed regional militias and installed a countdown clock in Palestine Square aimed at an alleged Israeli end date of 2040. Despite that, sentiment in Tel Aviv is defiant and often joyful.
Since Saturday, Israel has kept a war footing. Schools, businesses and gatherings were suspended for at least a week. Residents with safe rooms are spending long stretches inside, while many others stay in garages or shelters. Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles; at least two struck civilians directly, killing 10 in the first days. Strike tempo reportedly fell from almost hourly on Saturday to about six by Tuesday, with similar decreases elsewhere. Yoel Esteron argues Tehran may survive but could be badly weakened and its missile stockpile decimated; such pressure might push Arab neighbors toward normalization with Israel.
No clear sign exists of Iranian surrender; US-Israel strikes are increasing. Hezbollah responded with drones and missiles from Lebanon, and Israeli troops moved across the border. Public backing remains broad so far. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has kept a “no-prisoners” doctrine. On a day an Iranian missile killed nine near Jerusalem, Benjamin Netanyahu emerged from a bunker, thanked President Donald Trump, and praised forces for allegedly removing Ali Khamenei, saying the war would secure Israel’s future. He is running for reelection, and columnist Nahum Barnea frames the debate as whether Trump and Netanyahu may both be right this time. On Purim, symbolism is politically potent, with the biblical story of Esther reinforcing claims of divine mission and election leverage.