Israelis are again waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of air raid sirens and running to safe rooms and shelters. Thousands have been injured or displaced in missile attacks. Tens of thousands have left their homes and jobs to do even more army reserve duty. Schools are closed. Many people are stranded abroad because regular airline service to Israel has been suspended.

Yet, nearly a week into the Iran war, the mood in Israel is upbeat, in contrast to the one prevailing in the United States and the Persian Gulf countries—the latter of which have also been pummeled by Iranian missiles and drones. One poll published on March 4 showed that more than 80 percent of Israelis backed the attack on Iran. Media coverage has been unabashedly pro-war. In contrast to the rest of the world’s stock markets, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange rallied in the first days of the conflict. The shekel has strengthened against the dollar. If the war goes well, it is not hard to imagine Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose coalition has been trailing in the polls for years, coasting to a win in the general election later this year.

Israelis are again waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of air raid sirens and running to safe rooms and shelters. Thousands have been injured or displaced in missile attacks. Tens of thousands have left their homes and jobs to do even more army reserve duty. Schools are closed. Many people are stranded abroad because regular airline service to Israel has been suspended.

Yet, nearly a week into the Iran war, the mood in Israel is upbeat, in contrast to the one prevailing in the United States and the Persian Gulf countries—the latter of which have also been pummeled by Iranian missiles and drones. One poll published on March 4 showed that more than 80 percent of Israelis backed the attack on Iran. Media coverage has been unabashedly pro-war. In contrast to the rest of the world’s stock markets, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange rallied in the first days of the conflict. The shekel has strengthened against the dollar. If the war goes well, it is not hard to imagine Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose coalition has been trailing in the polls for years, coasting to a win in the general election later this year.

One reason, of course, is that Israelis are used to........

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