PM: Israel Undergoing Largest Rearmament in Years, Eying Iran Strike

In comments to the parliament, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett talked up Israel’s ability to attack Iran without restraint. He said Israel is in the midst of its largest rearmament in years.

Bennett played up the increase of the military budget to $19.2 billion, noting that much is earmarked for planning a military attack on Iran. Of course, Israel has been threatening this attack for decades, and its military budget has long gone at least in part for long-range strike capabilities.

Bennett further sought to get out in front of the ongoing Iran nuclear talks, and the risk that a nuclear deal would get in the way of his attack. He said Israel isn’t party to any deal, and therefore would not be bound by any deal with Iran.

Now, he says that, but in reality if a nuclear deal is in place and everyone agrees Iran is abiding by it, it would be extremely risky for Israel to attack Iran unilaterally in the middle of that. Israel would no doubt keep threatening Iran, and trying to undermine the deal, but a full-scale attack would be inviting a major backlash.