Israel: Will Not Attack Iran, For Now

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Israel has no plans to attack, but will leave it as a last resort

by John Glaser, December 01, 2011

At present, Israel does not want to launch a military strike against Iran, but it will hold that option as a last resort, according to Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

Reiterating longstanding military propaganda, Barak explained that “all options are on the table” are on the table, even if no current plans to attack Iran are underway.The talking point is what amounts to a threat of the use of force, prohibited under international law, yet regular practice by the United States and Israel.

In fact, U.S.-Israeli force is currently being used against Iran, both by the harsh economic sanctions regime and covert activity which includes special forces operations on the ground, commercial sabotage, cyber-warfare, and targeted assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists.

But this is the first time since the hyperbolic release of the IAEA report that Israel has officially stated an attack on Iran this time around is not in the works. This is an illustration of how opposed many in the military and intelligence communities in the U.S. and Israel have been to attacking Iran.

Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan has repeatedly stated publicly that a unilateral strike or war with Iran would be a disastrous mistake for Israel. ”I’m concerned about possible mistakes and I prefer to speak out before there is a catastrophe,” Dagan said in an interview on Thursday.

“I think that engaging, with open eyes, in a regional war is warranted only when we are under attack or when the sword is already cutting against our live flesh. It is not an alternative that should be chosen lightly.”

That Iran presents no threat to Israel or the United States, as confirmed by the IAEA report, also had something to do with Barak’s statement.

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