Israeli lawmakers from across the political spectrum offered broad support as the country launched preemptive strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities overnight Thursday, amid alarm and concern from other countries who warned the action could further destabilize the region.

Israel began waves of bombings in Iran early Friday morning, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the campaign, dubbed “Rising Lion,” was “to strike Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Iran’s ballistic missile factories, and Iran’s military capabilities.”

Israeli officials offered support and urged the public to obey instructions from the IDF Home Front Command, which issued a general order that the public should remain close to bomb shelters as Israel braces for Iranian reprisals.

“I pursued my enemies and overtook them, I did not turn back till they were destroyed,” quoted President Isaac Herzog from Psalms 18:37 in a post to X. “The security forces are acting with determination and responsibility to protect Israeli citizens,” he added. “Please listen to the Home Front instructions — it saves lives.”

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid wrote that he “blesses the security forces and supports them and their action tonight to protect the security of Israel’s citizens.”

Benny Gantz, leader of the opposition National Unity party, posted a prayer recited weekly in synagogues on Saturdays for the welfare of Israeli security forces, adding at the end “we are all united against our enemies” and urging the public to obey instructions.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich posted the same prayer, which is also recited by some at times when Israeli forces are known to be in immediate peril, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir simply posted three Israeli flags.

Yair Golan, leader of the opposition The Democrats party, posted “a strong people, a determined army and a home front behind them, that is how we were always victorious, and that is how we will win today.”

“The eternal people are not afraid,” wrote Avigdor Liberman, leader of the opposition Yisrael Beytenu party.

There were mixed responses from US lawmakers as........

© The Times of Israel