Netanyahu Dismisses Military Opposition to Iran War, Says He Will Decide

Cites 1981 Attack on Iraq Despite Mossad Opposition

In several television interviews today Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to downplay the significance of military opposition to starting a war in Iran, saying that the military doesn‘t get to decide whether or not to go to war.

Rather Netanyahu says his cabinet will make the decision to attack, adding “that is the way it has always been, and will always be.” The point was repeated across several appearances, becoming a major talking point.

Netanyahu cited the 1981 attack on Iraq, ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, as an example of an elected leader spurning advice (in that case Mossad’s advice) to launch a unilateral attack.

Netanyahu insisted that he “hasn’t decided” yet on whether or not to order an attack on Iran, but reiterated that he believes it is his right to give such an order and Israel’s right to start such a war as a matter of “self defense.”

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.