It would appear that the White House’s concern of an imminent Israeli assault against Iran has prompted the weekend visit of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey.

YWN reported earlier on the visit, which by all accounts is another attempt by the United States to persuade Israel to abandon any plans of a military offensive, which Dempsey feels will significantly destabilize the situation while failing to reach long-term objectives.

While by all accounts Iranian longer-range missiles are capable of traveling 2,000km (1,200 miles), hence threatening Europe and US interests along with Israel, Washington does not face the same existential threat that Israel does, perhaps explaining America’s stern objections to an aerial assault.

Israeli officials continue efforts to emphasize the Iranian threat is not an Israeli one alone, but a situation that be cause for concerns by America, the EU and other countries as well, including Arab League member nations.

Dempsey told high-ranking officials in Israel that sanctions imposed on Iran will have a desired effect since Iran Is a “Rational player”, but for Jerusalem, hour glass is running down while the international community continues efforts to win over Chinese and Russian support for unprecedented sanctions, which the two simply will not support.

In Israel, prominent officials including former IDF chief Amnon Lipkin-Shachak oppose an assault at present, fearing the day after, the Iranian appraisal. Shachak feels is not yet prepared for that eventuality.

Unfortunately, aware of the dangers involved in such an attack, including the ‘day after’, government officials are fighting the race against the clock, with Iran moving ahead at a rapid pace towards nuclear independence which the international community is foot-dragging and sanctions are limited and too ineffective to achieve their desired results.

Former defense minister, MK (Labor) Binyamin Ben-Eliezer on Sunday morning 26 Shevat 5772 told Israel Radio he feels that for a first time economic sanctions are beginning to have an impact so we are compelled to sit and wait for the time being. Ben-Eliezer feels that in reality, the United States should be far more concerned than Israel since a nuclear Iran will threaten Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and other countries, the world’s oil supply, and therefore he does not believe Washington will remain idle. Regarding Israel US relations, Ben-Eliezer feels over the past decades there have always been “ups and downs but the friendship is so strong, we should not fear America will not be there in the hour of need”.

“I would like to tell all residents that Israel is ready, trained and proficient in doing what needs to be done should the need arise.” He added that a nuclear Iran will threaten the region’s Sunni Muslim population and this too should be cause for serious concern among senior American and EU officials.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)