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IDF: Likelihood of Iraqi Attack "Extremely Low"

(Jerusalem Post) Nina Gilbert - •Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Ya'alon told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Tuesday that the likelihood of an Iraqi attack on Israel is considered to be "extremely low," drawn from the assessment that Saddam will only try to attack Israel if he is cornered, but by that time Iraq will not have the capabilities to do so. •Ya'alon said Israel's air defenses have been on high alert since the September 11 terror attacks on the U.S. •The IDF's intelligence assessment is that Hizballah would moderate its activities during a war out of fear of reprisals from Israel. •According to a senior IDF intelligence official, the Iraqis believe war is inevitable. Yet, cooperation with UN inspectors is continuing and enabling Iraq to buy time to prepare. Iraq also believes that lack of international legitimacy for a U.S. attack would give the regime and Saddam himself a chance to outlast a war. •According to the intelligence official, the PA is trying to stop Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza because of Israel's harsh reprisals. However, the success of this effort has been limited and will not be effective as long as the PA does not uproot the Hamas terror infrastructure, he added.
2003-03-12 00:00:00
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