Increasingly Belligerent Iran Poses Dilemma for Israel

(JNS-Israel Hayom) Israel Kasnett - At the annual Herzliya Conference, experts discussed the nature of the conflict between Iran and Israel. Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, supported the U.S. "maximum pressure" campaign. "Do we want to confront a weakened Iran or a stronger Iran?...It's always good to weaken your enemy, not strengthen them." Ariel Levite, former deputy director general of the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission, said, "There was an illusion that the JCPOA [nuclear deal] would pave the way for positive dynamics with Iran. It has done exactly the opposite." Levite added, "In the haste to get an agreement in 2015, very serious shortcuts were made, which ultimately produced a very problematic agreement and a very flawed implementation of it thereafter." Levite noted that Iran already appears comfortable with acting aggressive and confrontational - and that's without a nuclear umbrella. Imagine what they would do if they have the nuclear umbrella, he said. Former Israeli national security adviser Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror was asked whether Israel should prepare for a strike on Iran. He replied, "The clear answer, 'yes.' Israel cannot be in a situation in which Iranians will absorb the ability to manufacture nuclear military capability, and Israel cannot stop it....We cannot put our future in the hands of any other state....At the end of the day, if the Iranians cross the red line and we are in a situation in which tomorrow will be too late, we will have to act." Sima Shine, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, said, "The international community should deal with [Iran]. I don't think Israel can take upon itself the solution." Amidror replied, "What do we do if they don't? The answer to that question should be very clear....Israel should be in the position to do the job....If all the good people in the world will not do it...we should do it."


2019-07-04 00:00:00

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