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Israel's Role in the Struggle over the Iranian Nuclear Project

(Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies-Bar-Ilan University) Yossi Kuperwasser - The fact that Iran has not yet developed nuclear weapons, in spite of the 27 years in which it has been trying to do so, is due in no small part to Israel's efforts. Thus, the claims made that Iran's success in proceeding towards the attainment of nuclear weapons represent an Israeli failure are themselves worthy of ridicule. Without Israel's actions, Iran would have obtained nuclear weapons several years ago. Even a bad deal will postpone to some extent the decision to break out toward a bomb. As long as the negotiations continue, Israel should keep doing everything it can to prevent a bad deal with Iran. But if a bad deal is signed, then: Israel should multiply its intelligence attempts to know what is happening in Iran, so that it may sound the alarm; it should accelerate its efforts to develop the military capability to defend itself if necessary; and it should find ways to form a regional alliance determined to block Iranian attempts to translate its achievements in the nuclear realm into greater regional influence, even without developing a weapon. Under no circumstances should Israel accept understandings with the U.S. which limit its ability to decide by itself what kind of actions it may take to protect itself against the nuclear threats that may follow the deal. Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser was chief of the research division in IDF Military Intelligence and, until recently, director general of the Ministry of Strategic Affairs.
2015-06-12 00:00:00
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