Will Israel stop Iran?

by Steve Kramer, JEWISH TIMES

Five years ago, I wrote the following article, “Green Light for Israel,” criticizing the West for its acquiescence towards the surging power of Iran [with contemporary comments added]:

“Iran is arguably the world’s greatest supporter of terror, especially against Israel. The Hizbollah terror organization in Lebanon and the Hamas terror organization [and Islamic Jihad] in Gaza, aim their scores of thousands of rockets directly at Israel. Iran is the main financier and materiel supplier for these military forces, which have already fired thousands of rockets into Israel. Iran’s elite Republican Guard is active in other Arab countries like Iraq, where Iran has contributed to the deaths of American and other Western troops, in Sudan, and and also in Africa’s largest country, Nigeria. Lately, Iran has gained influence in the African countries of Somalia and Eritrea, each located by crucial trading routes – the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, respectively.

“Republican Guard agents are also found in South America, where terror attacks in Argentina carried out by Hezbollah in 1994 and 1996, on instructions from Iran, killed more than one hundred Jews and injured hundreds more. [Iran has opened a dozen embassies in Latin America while the United States has reduced its footprint in the region. Russia and China are also engaged in filling the vacuum America has created around the world.]

“The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that the Tehran regime has grossly underreported the extent of Iran’s uranium enrichment activities, along with a slew of other violations, including refusing access to IAEA inspectors to the heavy water reactor at Arak, which is ideally suited to producing plutonium for use in nuclear weapons. At the UN, America and Britain recently accused Iran of supplying arms to Syria in violation of a UN Security Council resolution banning arms transfer as part of the measures against Iranian nuclear activities. Violations, yes; punishments, no.

“Despite Iran’s obvious trail of anti-Western activity, the Europeans have been happy to spend years negotiating with them, untroubled by the fact that Iran plows ahead with its nuclear ambitions. Obviously, Iran’s deep-rooted hostility towards Israel and America has given the Europeans a false sense of security regarding Iran’s military prowess towards them. This is not because Iran hides its growing arsenal of ballistic missiles, but in spite of it. Iran’s latest effort, putting a satellite into orbit, was accomplished by a missile capable of hitting all of the European capitals.

“The reason for Europe’s dilly-dallying with Iran is to prolong their mutually beneficial business relationships, though their mutual transactions are many times more significant to Iran than to any of its European partners. Russia and China also have a hand in prolonging the worse-than-useless negotiations, for reasons of realpolitik as well as trade. And we can’t ignore Iran’s clout as a huge oil and gas supplier, which seems to stupefy even some of the world’s strongest countries.

“The result has been that only weak sanctions [later greatly increased] have been brought to bear on Iran by the UN and several Western powers, and even those are not enforced adequately. To sum up, the West, plus Russia and China, don’t take Iran seriously, despite its rapid acquisition of ballistic missiles, its rush to enrich uranium – a prerequisite for nuclear weapons – and its strategic position overlooking the Strait of Tiran, through which 40% of the world’s oil is transported.”

Today: The sad fact is that more than five years after the Iranian drive towards nuclear weapons became common knowledge, the Iranians are poised to produce them. Yes, the weak sanctions were greatly increased against Iran, and had a significant impact on Iran’s economy, if not its nuclear research. But just when Europe and America had Iran’s leaders in a vulnerable position, both economically and politically, the pressure was reduced to entice the Iranians to once again negotiate.

The Iranians, I’m sure, could not believe their good fortune. They were suffering from sanctions which were debilitating their economy, if not actually inhibiting their progress towards nuclear weapons. Inexplicably, their adversaries reward them for agreeing to sit at the negotiating table! America and Europe reduced the sanctions, giving Iran just the economic lifeline it needed. The sanctions regime has been gutted and Western countries, including American giants such as Boeing and General Electric, are lining up to do business in Iran. Now that Iran is once again open for business, it would be extremely hard to reinstate a drastic sanctions program.

So, what enticement is there for Iran to desist from developing the bomb? The mullahs haven’t forgotten the downfall and execution of Saddam Hussein and Mu’ammer al-Gaddafi, after they ended their nuclear programs. Conversely, North Korea defied Western demands to demilitarize and now possesses nuclear weapons. Consequently, the rogue state is a thorn in the side of all its Asian neighbors. Happily for Iran, America’s chief negotiator, Wendy Sherman, is the same negotiator who failed miserably with North Korea.

If sanctions are no longer the method the West uses to pressure Iran, only military force remains an option. In fact, while everyone knows that Europe has no stomach and hardly even the ability to act militarily against Iran, America’s State Department still claims that, “Nothing is off the table.” But everything the Obama administration does points to containment, not interdiction. (My interpretation: “Nothing is ON the table.”)

The recent weak reactions to the use of chemical warfare by Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin’s takeover in Crimea are just the latest examples of a diffident American foreign policy. Neither Assad nor Putin are put off by the Western response to their continued belligerence. Assad continues to murder Syrians and Putin is not upset that Russia is no longer part of the G-8 economic group.

As I and others noted five years ago, neither the actions of Europe nor America show alarm over the Iranian nuclear threat. Israel has no such luxury (perhaps the West doesn’t either). Israel has the means to forcefully impede Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons, even if it can’t destroy the whole program. In addition, Israel has the will to do it, if necessary.

Iran, a Muslim country run by radical jihadists, just might decide to attack Israel, relying on its burgeoning military might, its many allies on Israel’s borders, and the West’s apparent disinclination for confrontation. Russia, which has lately been flaunting its power with impunity, supports Iran, another factor which may give Iran confidence.

>An Israeli attack on Iran would have dire repercussions. But nothing could be more dangerous for Israel than betting on Iran’s good will or good sense not to attack Israel. The dithering West, coupled with the resolute mullahs of Iran, may result in a military confrontation that should have been stopped years ago. One thing that is sure is that Israel is serious about “Never Again.” and will not passively await a military onslaught against it. So I repeat: Western weakness is giving Israel the green light to attack Iran.

pics: North Koreans support militaristic government, North Korean ballistic missile; Iranians support militaristic government, Iranian ballistic missile

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March 28, 2014 | 6 Comments »

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  1. AbbaGuutuu Said:

    USSR valued human lives like the West. They wanted to live and let live.

    (USSR valued Human life??? They wanted to live and let live???)

    I have some prime development land in the middle of the Georgia everglades and in Death Valley… Great fro farming wheat and corn!!!! do you want to buy some cheap???

    It is impossible to contain a leadership such as the Mullahs of Iran that believes in getting better ‘rewards” through death than life. This is the stated official beliefs of the Iranian leadership. They believe to have a mandate to bring back Mahdi (Twelfth Imam)by creating chaos throughout the world to form a world wide caliphate.

    True they believe it so why have they maneuvered to take control of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and as soon as America leaves Afghanistan they will take that country over as well, including the the gulf states and the Shia tibal lands of Saudia Arabia. That gives the hegemony of a Shia Crescent from central Asia to the Mediterranean.

    They are the main supporters of Hamas today and the Bedouin Tribes fighting the current Egyptian government. Jordan is also in their cross hairs and eventually Turkey.

    Seems like their more immediate geopolitical aim is a Shia hegemony from Afghanistan and including the eastern Med. Basin states. If national theological suicide were in the cards they don’t need to push for hegemony of neighboring countries who don’t pose a threat to Iran.

    Iran’s nuclear capability is a real threat not only to Israel and the GCC but the entire world.

    The threat is their expected deterrent quality. Nobody ever contemplated attacking North Korea once they had gotten some Nukes not Pakistan. If Gaddafi had developed his nukes he would be alive today. If the Ukraine had not given up their Nukes Putin might not have invaded Crimea.

    The real danger is nuclear proliferation by every country who feels threatened by Iran. Genie is out of the box and can’t be put back so we face sooner or later a nuclear Armageddon. The prophetic war of Gog U Magog.

    And it shall come to pass in that day, that there shall not be light, but heavy clouds and thick; And there shall be one day which shall be known as the LORD’S, not day, and not night; but it shall come to pass, that at evening time there shall be light. And it shall come to pass in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem: half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea; in summer and in winter shall it be. And men shall dwell therein, and there shall be no more extermination; but Jerusalem shall dwell safely. And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the peoples that have warred against Jerusalem: their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their sockets, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour. And Judah also shall fight against Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the nations round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso of the families of the earth goeth not up unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, upon them there shall be no rain. Zechariah 14

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvURsmCGGhI&list=PL84641B8293E35D19

  2. If sanctions are no longer the method the West uses to pressure Iran, only military force remains an option. In fact, while everyone knows that Europe has no stomach and hardly even the ability to act militarily against Iran, America’s State Department still claims that, “Nothing is off the table.” But everything the Obama administration does points to containment, not interdiction. (My interpretation: “Nothing is ON the table.”)

    Unless pushed into to take action like what Europeans did In Libya to oust Qaddafi from power, I donot think US will take a military action against Iran. Something that the West fail to recognize is the fact that Iran won’t be contained like the USSR via MADD (Mutual Assured Destruction Detente) nuclear policy. USSR valued human lives like the West. They wanted to live and let live. It is impossible to contain a leadership such as the Mullahs of Iran that believes in getting better ‘rewards” through death than life. This is the stated official beliefs of the Iranian leadership.
    They believe to have a mandate to bring back Mahdi (Twelfth Imam)by creating chaos throughout the world to form a world wide caliphate. Iran’s nuclear capability is a real threat not only to Israel and the GCC but the entire world.

  3. yamit82 Said:

    In both compulsory and noncompulsory war, a Kohen is appointed to address the nation during the war and he is anointed with the anointing oil. He is the one called the mashuach milchamah, the “anointed for war”. Israel goes into battle behind the anointed of war. He defines and determines the nature of the war, sanctifies it through his words to the people and makes certain that Israel go to war in holiness and with trust in G-d. Such is Jewish warfare! It is based on holiness, on faith and trust in G-d that if someone fights the wars of G-d, evil will not befall him since he is fighting for the sanctification of G-d’s name.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa9E1X6NybE

  4. There is no way I can defend willfully ignorant rabbis who refuse to understand and concede the fact that Milchemt Mitzvah applies to all Jews in our time. The Laws for all Jews during Milchemt Mitzvah are clear and defined both in the Shulchan Aruch and the Rambam as well as from most poskim.

    When a camp goes out to war against your enemies, you shall guard against anything evil. If there will be among you a man who will not be clean because of a nocturnal occurrence, he shall go outside the camp … For Hashem, your G-d, walks in the midst of your camp so as to save you and grant you victory over your enemy. Your camp must, therefore, be holy, so that He will not see a shameful thing among you and turn away from behind you. (Deut. 23: 10, 11, 15)

    The milchemet mitzvah of the Jewish People is not like the wars of the gentiles. Rather, its conception and birth are in holiness. Following is Rambam (Hilchot Melachim 7:1): In both compulsory and noncompulsory war, a Kohen is appointed to address the nation during the war and he is anointed with the anointing oil. He is the one called the mashuach milchamah, the “anointed for war”. Israel goes into battle behind the anointed of war. He defines and determines the nature of the war, sanctifies it through his words to the people and makes certain that Israel go to war in holiness and with trust in G-d. Such is Jewish warfare! It is based on holiness, on faith and trust in G-d that if someone fights the wars of G-d, evil will not befall him since he is fighting for the sanctification of G-d’s name.

    What is an obligatory war? The war against the seven (Canaanite) nations; the war against Amalek, and aiding Israel against any enemy that comes up against them.

    If ever there was such a war as mentioned in the third category it is surely this struggle against the Arabs who come up against us to destroy Israel.

    Given that, it is surely a halachic question whether anyone is exempt from such a war. Maimonides brings down the Braita (Tractate Sotah) and declares: “In an obligatory war, all go out (to battle), even the bridegroom from his room and the bride from her canopy.”(Hilchot M’lachim 7:4)

    Obligation of Women fighting in a Milchemt mitzvah

    “Zachor Et Asher Asa Lecha Amalek BaDerech Betzetchem MiMitzrayim”

    “Remember what Amalek did to you on your way out of Egypt! (Dvarim 25)”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipXrkKTM_Ak
    Women are required as men to hear the Parshat Amalek the same as men on the shabbat before Purim. They have as the Rambam indicated the same obligations as men when there is a Milchet Mitzvah situation. That said Jewish Men, are not happy with the idea that their women fight as men in Wars.

    The Book of Judges (4:21) describes how the heroic Yael dealt with the evil Sisera, after seeing to it that he dozed off: “And Yael the wife of Hever picked up the tent peg and took the hammer in her hand, and she came over quietly to him and she drove the peg through his temple into the ground…and he died.” 🙂

    The halachic question of whether or not women are obligated to hear Parshat Zachor. The Sefer Hachinuch states that women are exempt from the mitzvah of hearing Parshat Zachor since the purpose of the mitzvah is to inspire us to fight and destroy Amalek and women are not considered to be soldiers of war. The Minchat Chinuch on this mitzvah questions this logic that milchemet amalek is considered a milchemet mitzvah and for a milchemet mitzvah even a bride from her chupah is expected to participate in battle. Rav Ovadiah Yosef defended the Sefer Hachinuch and states that the obligation of women in a milchemet mitzvah is in providing food for the soldiers. However, the Minchat Chinuch and Maharil Diskin felt that women are obligated in war and therefore required to hear Parshat Zachor. The accepted custom is for women to come to synagogue and hear Parshat Zachor.

    obligation to hear parshat zachor

  5. Lets see…. Who should have done that? Who was reluctantly elected, twice, based in part on his pretension to be “strong on Iran”? Election stickers are still stuck on several light poles around town.
    The mystery is cleared. Netanyahu.
    As it has been the case on most of the specimen’s “promises”, Netanyahu not only failed the Jewish voters on preventing, but allowed others to support Iran into completing its program.
    My position has been all along, knowing the fellow, that nothing would be done before. And I add now that Netanyahu will also fail to do a thing in the future, if allowed to remain in power.
    And…
    He will release the murderers, on a delayed fashion perhaps, but release, he will and he will continue the freeze… etc.