Israeli daily reports PM & defense minister in favor of striking Tehran’s nuclear facilities before US elections despite IDF’s objections

By Ynet

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak advocate an attack of Iran‘s nuclear facilities in the upcoming fall, Yedioth Ahronoth’s senior commentators Nahum Barnea and Shimon Shiffer reported Friday.

Netanyahu, Barak. Attack in the fall? – Photo: Eliad Levy

According to Barnea and Shiffer, “Not a single state official or military official or even the president – supports an Israeli attack in Iran.”

The report stated that Netanyahu and Barak believe that setting back Iran’s nuclear project is worth the risk – while defense officials believe the opposite to be true. The report also referred to Netanyahu’s certainty that US President Barack Obama will not stop Iran’s nuclear development on time.

Barnea and Shiffer referred to the fact that advisers from both the PM’s office and the White House are aware of the possibility that an Israeli action just before the elections might cause an embarrassment to Obama’s administration and advance his Republican opponent Mitt Romney.

The Fordo facility – The National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) report, recently submitted to the White House said that Iran has recently installed 5,000 “twin centrifuges” in the underground nuclear facility in Fordo, near Qom.

“In America, many, including government officials, are convinced that the military action that Netanyahu and Barack are promoting is set to cause one thing – force America into a war with Iran against its will. Israel will need the Americans’ help”, Barnea and Shiffer wrote.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Barak admits it is clear that Iran will respond to an attack on its nuclear facilities, also by utilizing Hezbollah.

This will result in casualties and fatalities and every day of fighting will cost NIS 1.5 billion (approx. $380,000).

Still, the defense minister further argues that Israel “will not be destroyed” and that such an operation will not make Israel hated across the globe. In Barak’s opinion, those in the IDF who oppose an attack in Iran are afraid of a commission of inquiry. Barak therefore made it clear that everyone against an attack is free to resign.

View original Ynet publication at: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4266931,00.html