It is safe to assume they are the following, in order:
- Stay in power as long as possible;
- Manipulate America into a wider war with Iran that is purely in Israel’s interests; and
- Help Trump get elected.
Agreeing to a cease-fire accomplishes none of these objectives; in fact, it is inconsistent with all of them. As a result, even though the Israeli military and a large segment of the public wants a cease-fire, it won’t happen unless it is the prelude to a wider war.
And what of the wider war? It would be horribly risky; Israel’s very existence would be at stake. It would, however, accomplish the first two objectives, and possibly the third. It cannot be dismissed at this point.