Report: Israel reaches strategic decision to act to prevent Iranian nukes

[Israel Insider]

Israel will not agree to allow Iran to achieve nuclear weapons and will take whatever means are necessary to prevent Teheran from achieving its nuclear goals, the government recently decided in a special discussion.

The Jerusalem Post, Aug. 29, 2008

According to the Israeli daily Ma'ariv, whether the United States and Western countries will succeed in toppling the ayatollah regime diplomatically, through sanctions, or whether an American strike on Iran will eventually be decided upon, Jerusalem has put preparations for a separate, independent military strike by Israel in high gear. So far, Israel has not received American authorization to use US-controlled Iraqi airspace, nor has the defense establishment been successful in securing the purchase of advanced US-made warplanes which could facilitate an Israeli strike. The Americans have offered Israel permission to use a global early warning radar system, implying that the US is pushing Israel to settle for defensive measures only. Because of Israel's lack of strategic depth, Jerusalem has consistently warned over the past years it will not settle for a 'wait and see' approach and retaliate in case of attack, but rather use preemption to prevent any risk of being hit in the first place. Ephraim Sneh a veteran Labor MK which has left the party recently, has sent a document to both US presidential candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama. The eight-point document states that "there is no government in Jerusalem that would ever reconcile itself to a nuclear Iran. When it is clear Iran is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons, an Israeli military strike to prevent this will be seriously considered." According to Ma'ariv, Sneh offered the two candidates the "sane, cheap and the only option that does not necessitate bloodshed." To prevent Iran's nuclear aspirations, Sneh wrote, "real" sanctions applied in concert by the US and Europe is necessary. A total embargo in spare parts for the oil industry and a total boycott of Iranian banks will topple, within a short time, the regime which is already pressured by a sloping economy and would be toppled by the Iranian people if they would have outside assistance. The window of opportunity Sneh suggests is a year and a half to two years, until 2010. Sneh also visited Switzerland and Austria last week in an attempt to lobby those two states. Both countries have announced massive long-term investments in Iranian gas and oil fields for the next decade. "Talk of the Jewish Holocaust and Israel's security doesn't impress these guys," Sneh said wryly. Hearing his hosts speak of their future investments, Sneh replied quietly "it's a shame, because Ido will light all this up." He was referring to Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan, the recently appointed commander of the Israeli Air Force and the man most likely to be the one to orchestrate Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, should this become the necessity. "Investing in Iran in 2008," Sneh told his Austrian hosts, "is like investing in Krups Steelworks in 1938, it's a high risk investment." The Austrians, according to Sneh, turned pale.Full story from the Jerusalem Post

[Edmund Stahl]

Can we believe everything we hear about Iran? Some times leaders will say anything to stay in power.

[couragehonorvalor]

With all due respect to vypenderon, this kind of statement from an IDF Magor General does not lend itself to rhetoric. It would irresponsible to to make such a declaration and fail to follow through with it. After all, Libya, (former) Iraq and Syria might argue to the contrary. I think that no one would disagree that an attack on Iran's uranium enrichment program would be little more than a setback to their quest for hegemony through threat of nuclear war given that Iran has dispersed its nuclear facilities - as you rightly pointed out - in hardened structures / bunkers.

To say that Israel can do "absolutely nothing to damage..." is, I think giving our terrorist neighbors perhaps too much credit. As well to say that it would be unlikely (short of an occupation) that they can be stopped entirely. That's not going happen.

Sometimes (most every time) we are faced with a decision between bad and worse, not good and bad.

Does anybody believe that Ahmadinejad is exercising rhetoric when he promises to end Israel's existence?

Waiting and doing nothing would be unimaginable.

Again V, I sincerely do respect your view, I just hope you aren't right on this one. We may disagree agreeably, may we not?

[Jim-Chicago]

My family stands besides Israel because we believe and hope that Israel stands beside us. I have never met people besides Americans who are so gracious and so disrespected.

If Obama is elected he will desert you so my family and others will come to help. The bad guy is waiting for Obama's arrival and Bush's departure.

The American people are with you but were not real sure if our government will be.

[anonymous]

Good decision!

[Paul I. Adams]

THis is a somber hour. Yet, G-d is Israel's "ever present help in time of trouble..." Providential Hands in history, divine intervention, "outcomes that defy logic"....these are all real and essentially the same! Let the whole earth see the Glory of the Lord, as His promises over Israel and Jerusalem are KEPT!... not as a validation of the Israeli government, but as reminder that we serve a G-d who is TRUE to His Word and keeps His covenants..."He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps..."

[Robert Bernier]

We should not wait : tomorrow it might be too late.
A nuclear Iran has become an increasingly contentious issue as Ahmadinejad will not have any moral consideration keeping him from using the atomic bomb. A preventive strike against a declared genocidal Iran, will be a severe blow to world terrorism and will reduce significantly our problems with the terrorist state of Syria, the Hizbullah and Hamas. It will also remove the threat of a nuclear missile attack on Europe, Russia, China and India. The population in the West, as well as in the other peace loving countries will feel safer again. Learn more about Iran at: http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2008/06/iranian-shell-game.html

[Robert Bernier]

There is no other choice but to deny Iran nuclear weapons.
Israeli experts say that Iran could go nuclear as early as 2009. This is precisely the same year in which Ahmadinejad is reported to have said the hidden Imam will reappear. It is also possible that Israeli estimates are off by a year—or more. Perhaps Iran will have a nuclear bomb next year, or at least the unimpeded capacity build one. No one really knows. Meanwhile, European diplomacy has failed miserably. Discussions have yielded almost nothing and Iran has never been closer to acquiring nuclear weapons. More at :
http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2008/07/iran-has-resumed-bomb-project-says-west_14.html

[couragehonorvalor]

Israel is the United State's most faithful ally voting in agreement around 90% with the US at the United Nations consistently over the past 10 years. Western European countries (whom we saved from the Germans - TWICE) voted in agreement about half the time (UK being a notable exception at closer to 75%). Throw in a couple of South Pacific island nations whom we rescued from Imperial Japan. Credit the Jewish Virtual Library for the data.

Earlier in my life when the use of extreme measures of force was necessary to solve "certain problems" we always used this criterion: "No choice in the matter."

Enter Iran.

These guys have some apocalyptic vision of the destruction of Israel and her friends. Unless they're stopped they'll try. We must stop the radical Islamic extremists.

We have no choice in the matter.

[RonaldH]

If true, this is the best news I have heard out of Israel's leaders in a long time. I hope they will stay resolute in their decision. I like the idea of putting both presidential candidates on notice that Iran will have to stop their drive for nuclear arms one way or another. I also like the idea that the anti-Israel crowd will not be able to reasonably argue that Israel is using the US and others to fight their battles. No. Israel is making an open declaration that Iran will either stop nuclear activities voluntarily, or the world community will put pressure on Iran to stop, or as a last resort, Israel will stop Iran by force. No bragging, no dragging others, just the facts.