Speaking to Israel Radio’s Reshet Bet on Thursday morning; former Mossad Intelligence Agency Director Ephraim Halevy stated “If I were an Iranian, I would be very fearful of the next 12 weeks”.
Based on current assessments and statements released to the media, there is a growing feeling that Israel is going to strike soon. Nevertheless, when asked to comment on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s statements this week that he has not made a decision regarding an Iranian strike, Halevy told Israel Radio he believes this is so, adding that the prime minister is always concerned about his future credibility and there is no reason for him to state he has not decided if this were not the case.
The New York Times also addresses the Iranian question, pointing out that Israel does not like to fight wars in the winter; (2) and prefers to launch a strike ahead of presidential elections in the United States since if President Obama is reelected, (3) Israel lacks leverage and if Mitt Romney is elected since a new president is not likely going to take on “big military actions” early on in his first time and (4) the prime minister believes the ‘window of opportunity’ for a military offensive is rapidly closing.
Others made light of the constant visits from the United States. “The visitors are actually baby sitters to make sure the unpredictable kids do not misbehave,” said Ephraim Inbar, the director of the Begin-Sadat Institute for Strategic Studies.
During his working visit in Israel this week, US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta assured national leaders that the United States will “never” permit Iran to achieve nuclear independence. The Times report signals an attack is likely in September or October 2012.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Any attack should be after rosh Chodesh Elul when the kol kol yackov is back in full force
May I state the obvious, if he said it, its very bizarre!
Why would anyone tell the enemy “look out, Prepare! Cause we may strike”
Unless they want Iran to think the conventional thought which is ‘an open warning means it aint happening’ and therefore let their guard down.
Who knows????
Y2R-It’s called saber rattling. This serves 2 purposes. 1) It scares the Iranians into doing something that shows their cards and 2) When they are on the lookout for the obvious military strike they aren’t focused on the clandestine information gathering.