Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering changing the name of Operation Swords of Iron.
According to government sources, Netanyahu addressed the issue today in the cabinet meeting, arguing that "'Swords of Iron' is the name of an operation, not the name of a war."
Among other options, according to a report by Michael Shemesh on KAN 11, the prime minister is considering names such as the Gaza War, the Simchat Torah War, and the Genesis War.
נתניהו מעוניין לשנות את שם המלחמה, לדבריו ״חרבות ברזל זה שם של מבצע, לא של מלחמה״.בין השמות הנבחנים: ׳מלחמת בראשית׳, ׳מלחמת עזה׳ ו׳מלחמת שמחת תורה׳.נתניהו אהב את השם ׳מלחמת בראשית׳ ‘the genesis war’. https://t.co/eWJewlsQMx
— מיכאל שמש Michael Shemesh (@shemeshmicha) December 17, 2023
Sources close to Netanyahu confirmed that "he is interested in a name that will catch on publicly and internationally, and that the war will be remembered as a significant war, not just as an operation."
Name changes have occurred in the past
Changing the name a conflict from an operation to a war is not necessarily an unusual move. The "Galilee Peace" Operation in 1982 turned into the Lebanon War and is still known by that name today.
Similarly, "Operation Just Remission" was later renamed "Operation Change of Direction" before ultimately being officially named the Second Lebanon War at its conclusion.