As
was told to me years ago, Israel will defend itself right to the
gates of Baghdad (or Teheran)
Netanyahu,
Barak to tell Panetta: Israel reserves the right to defend itself
Panetta
arrives in Israel for brief visit that will focus on the
American-Israeli dispute over whether to attack Iran's nuclear
facilities
1
August, 2012
U.S.
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta arrived in Israel last night for a
brief visit that will focus on the American-Israeli dispute over
whether to attack Iran's nuclear facilities. Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak plan to stress that Israel
reserves the right to defend itself, and to make its own decision on
whether to attack.
Another
major topic of discussion will be efforts to prevent Syria's chemical
weapons from reaching Lebanon.
A
senior government official told Haaretz that even if Jerusalem
attacks Iran over Washington's objections, he doesn't think the
United States will turn its back on Israel. Israel, he added, must
retain sole responsibility for its security.
Panetta's
visit comes against the backdrop of a rash of media reports about the
possibility of an Israeli strike. In a series of interviews with
Israeli television stations on Tuesday, Netanyahu said, "Iran
wants to annihilate us. I won't let that happen."
He
also stressed that regardless of the defense establishment's views,
it's the government that will make the decision on whether to attack.
He was responding to media reports stating that virtually all senior
defense officials, including Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff
Benny Gantz and Mossad chief Tamir Pardo, vehemently oppose an attack
now, in the run-up to the U.S. election in November.
While
no decision on an Israeli strike has yet been made, a complex
campaign is being waged over the issue on at least three fronts:
between the Obama administration and the Israeli government; between
President Barack Obama and his rival, Republican candidate Mitt
Romney; and between politicians and defense professionals within
Israel. All sides are making heavy use of the media.
The
American-Israeli dispute revolves around both whether to attack, and
when. Twice in the last 48 hours, Panetta acknowledged that sanctions
haven't yet caused Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, but
insisted that they have had a major impact on Iran's economy, as
witnessed by its willingness to discuss a negotiated solution.
Therefore, he said, what's needed is to keep up the international
pressure.
Panetta
also denied that Jerusalem and Washington would discuss detailed
military plans against Iran, but said they would "continue to
work on a number of options."
Netanyahu,
meanwhile, said on Tuesday that "things that affect our fate,
our very existence, we don't entrust to others - not even to our best
friends. Obama and Romney both said that Israel has the right to
defend itself against any threat, and we are obligated to make the
decisions."
The
public statements have been accompanied by an unprecedented campaign
of American leaks, including Haaretz's report that Netanyahu was
shown American plans for attacking Iran (and given the message: "We
can do it better" ), Yedioth Ahronoth's report that America
would attack Iran within a year and a half, and a surprising report
about how Israel eavesdrops on the CIA in Tel Aviv (the message: "We
also know some unpleasant things about you" ). The bottom line
of all these reports is that America is committed to decisive action
against Iran, but not now. And it is embracing Israel in an effort to
prevent an Israeli attack before November.
That
embrace is also connected to the Obama-Romney race: During his visit
to Jerusalem this week, Romney outflanked Obama to the right on Iran,
while Obama sought to preempt by announcing new legislation on
American-Israeli security cooperation and reiterating his previous
pledge of another $70 million for Israeli missile defense systems.
Barak
also intervened in the battle for Jewish American voters' hearts on
Monday, when he told CNN that the Obama administration has done more
for Israel's security than any of its predecessors.
Finally,
there's the internal Israeli front, where Netanyahu and Barak are
lined up against the defense professionals. In his television
interviews on Tuesday, Netanyahu said he will listen willingly to the
professionals' views "in the proper place: in closed forums, not
in the media. The media discussion is irresponsible and undermines
national security."
It
is a matter of principle, he added, that in Israel, "as in every
democracy, it's the government that decides, and the executive
agencies execute."
As
for international objections to an Israeli strike, he said, "I'd
be happy if the world, and the United States, would do the job."
But while international pressure has hurt Iran's economy, "it
hasn't set its nuclear program back by so much as a meter."
Gantz,
for his part, said on Tuesday that "None of the media reports in
recent days were from me or on my behalf."
Israel
Navy Completes Major Drill
1
August, 2012
The
Israel Navy on Aug. 1 concluded a months-long surface fleet drill
that included live missile launches, simulated combat with enemy
forces and interoperability with the Israel Air Force.
Dozens
of combat ships took part in the eastern Mediterranean drill,
including the service’s three Sa’ar 5 corvettes and older Sa’ar
4.5 and Sa’ar 4 missile boats, an Israeli military spokesperson
said.
In
an Aug. 1 statement, Vice Adm. Ram Rotberg said the drill involved
“various complex scenarios” that “enhanced (our) ability to
contend with enemy threats.”
He
added, “The fleet’s combat soldiers demonstrated impressive
capabilities and are ready for any task required of them.”
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