By TIMES OF ISRAEL STAFF and AP
The US has recently warned Israel that an Israeli strike on Iran will likely cause Egypt and Jordan to annul their peace agreements with Israel and sever ties, according to a senior Israeli official quoted by the Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth on Thursday.
“These days, Arab leaders don’t rule their people. Rather, the street rules its leaders,” the official was quoted as saying. “An Israeli strike is exactly what the Iranians need: the entire Arab and Muslim street will go out to demonstrate.”
The Israeli official reportedly linked between the anticipated Arab reaction to an Israeli strike and the current rage-fueled wave of anti-Western protests in the wake of the publication of a trailer for a new film, “Innocence of Muslims,” that denigrates Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.
“What we’ve been seeing with the anti-Muhammad film is nothing but a preview for what’s going to happen if Israel attacks,” the official was quoted as saying.
The comments come after weeks of speculation about a possible Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Israel has argued that due to its security concerns and reluctance to “outsource” its security to another country — even the US — it cannot afford to let Iran reach a breakout point in its nuclear program, meaning the stage at which manufacturing an atomic weapon becomes merely a matter of time.
The US and Israel have recently become embroiled in a standoff after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama publicly said they would not set “red lines” for Iran’s nuclear program, beyond which military force would be deployed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for such measures as a means of calming Israeli apprehensions and, he says, of reducing the likelihood of conflict by making it clearer to Iran that the US is prepared to use force.
On Wednesday, a senior Israeli official warned Iran to stop its “direct and blunt threats” against Israel, telling a 155-nation nuclear conference that Israel was ready to defend itself against any nation that menaces its existence. Still, nuclear chief Shaul Chorev avoided any suggestion that Israel was contemplating a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Alluding to Iranian statements questioning Israel’s right to exist, Chorev warned that Israel “does not remain indifferent in view of such direct and blunt threats.”
“Israel is competent to deter its enemies and to defend itself,” he told the meeting.
On Monday, Iran’s nuclear chief told the same IAEA conference in
Vienna that his country’s nuclear facilities could now survive enemy attack.
@ Vinnie:YOUR GUESS IS PROBALY CORRECT.
@ yamit82: I have been saying that they want war, in fact require war, for a long time. I fullly agree with Benes
I believe that it is much bigger than Iran and is at the point of being existentially immediate. I believe that the political social structure of arab-islam necessitates ongoing conflict with Israel. In order to maintain power, and neutralize internal threats, there needs be external enemies. The arabs have a choice between conflict with Israel or conflict with each other. Right now it appears to have chosen the sunni shiite conflict with Iran because war with Israel apppeared, in the past, to be self defeating. However, I believe this this sunni shiite conflict to be a red herring, or a temporary solution, because conflict with Israel has so many more attractions than conflicts with other muslim nations. Whether it is a red herring or a temporary solution the end i sthe same: they will all unite against Israel and a major war is inevitable and soon. I see no other logical progression from the current scenario. The arab govts have reached the tipping point of their ability to feed and control their masses; War against Israel will allow the various govts to focus their uncontrollable masses attention to a universally accepted enemy satan; all of their males will jump at the opportunity to go to war to kill jews;its too good a deal for them to pass up, even if they want to pass it up(eg Jordan), it is about to spin out of control.
The appearances surrounding the current sunni shiite conflict, and arab spring, should not be relied upon, it might be a trojan horse. I truly fear for Israel and pray that its capabilities are up to the task of facing a vast muslim army, possibly even drawing in Turkey and islamic volunteers from far away nations. yamit82 Said:
I have read and agree wtih Feiglins points. My view is that the intentions have always been the same and therefore assuming the worst, it is capabilities that are crucial now, imperative immediately, as I see total war breaking out now. I am not sure whether it was Churchill who said
Perhaps, if the Israeli strikes are as successful as most of us hope, the fear inspired in Islamic states might have some positive results.
Those strikes need not be limited to Iran.
The most dangerous of Israel’s enemies should all be hit simultaneously.
Can it be done? I don’t know.
But the longer Israel waits the more difficult any action will become.
@ yamit82:THANK TOU FOR POSTING What If Israel’s ‘Peace Partners’ Actually Prefer War?
By: Louis Rene Beres
Published: September 21st, 2012