Netanyahu Has Voiced Frustration That Mossad’s Predictions Have Not Come To Pass

According to the Times of Israel on Monday, March 23, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly disappointed that a key strategic assumption by Israel’s intelligence agency has not materialized in the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

At the beginning of the war, Israel’s external intelligence service, Mossad, presented a plan suggesting that sustained military pressure and targeted strikes against Iran’s leadership could trigger widespread public unrest. The idea was that such internal pressure might encourage protests capable of destabilizing or even toppling the Iranian government.

According to reports cited by The New York Times and Times of Israel, Mossad chief David Barnea had briefed Netanyahu on this strategy before the conflict escalated. The plan was also reportedly shared with the White House, presenting regime change as a possible outcome of combined military and political pressure.

However, months into the conflict, that expectation has not been fulfilled. Instead of mass uprisings, observers say many Iranians have remained cautious about joining protests, largely due to fears of violent crackdowns and the risks associated with public dissent during wartime conditions.

Some analysts, including former U.S. official Nate Swanson, argue that a significant portion of the population prefers to avoid confrontation, prioritizing personal safety over political activism.

Behind closed doors, Netanyahu is said to have expressed dissatisfaction during security discussions, reportedly questioning the effectiveness of the plan and raising concerns about the possibility of shifts in U.S. policy, particularly under former U.S. President Donald Trump, which could influence the direction or duration of the campaign.

Despite these challenges, some Israeli officials remain optimistic that long-term pressure could still contribute to internal change within Iran. Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, has suggested that any meaningful transformation would ultimately depend on Iranians themselves stepping forward when conditions allow……See More