Netanyahu Squares the US Off Against Iran

Israel wants the United States to commit to a much harder line against Iran. Prime Minister Netanyahu is pushing for the U.S. to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities if Iran crosses the “red line.”

Israel is launching a high-level diplomatic offensive to convince the United States to commit to a militant posture against Iran’s nuclear plans. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Israeli president Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both hope to convince President Obama to increase pressure on Tehran by making definite threats to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities in the event Teheran crosses the “red line.”

Next week, Peres will begin a media offensive designed to convince the United States that the Islamic republic is going all out to construct atomic weapons. Among other events, interviews are planned with The New York Times and the television network ABC.

The Hezbollah militia has already warned of consequences if Israel attacks Iran. According to influential Hezbollah leader, Sheikh Naim Qassem, that would lead to a Middle East conflagration.

Another indication that Middle East tensions are on the rise is the increase in intensive shuttle diplomacy. Over the past several weeks, the summit meeting in Washington was preceded by several visits to Jerusalem by high-level U.S. representatives and intelligence personnel. Their goal was to convince their Israeli ally to refrain from any military attack on Iranian facilities. The U.S. says that sanctions must be given time to work.

They also warned Israel that military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities would only delay its nuclear program, not eliminate it. The risks involved in such an attack are therefore greater than anything Israel could hope to accomplish and could encourage Tehran’s Gaza Strip proxies to launch rockets into Israel. Furthermore, it is impossible to assess the threat to global oil markets as well and could result in damage to the worldwide economic recovery.

U.S. warnings against Israel taking unilateral action against Iran will likely fall on receptive ears, at least in the case of some Israeli politicians and military commanders. The number two person in the Kadima Party, Shaul Mofaz, has already voiced opposition to military action; the ethnic Iranian, who has served as Chief of Staff, was supported by the Likud party’s Dan Meridor, Netanyahu’s Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy. Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan also thinks air attacks on Iranian facilities are risky and fears a political disaster if Israel decides to go it alone.

A majority of Israelis reject attacking Iran, at least if such action is not supported by the United States. Only 19 percent of Israeli citizens support unilateral action.