An Israeli official said Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to persuade his Cabinet to authorize a military strike against Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program — a discussion that comes as Israel successfully tests a missile believed capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to Iran.

It remained unclear whether Israel was genuinely poised to strike or if it was saber-rattling to prod the international community into taking a tougher line on Iran. Israeli leaders have long hinted at a military option, but they always seemed mindful of the practical difficulties, the likelihood of a furious counterstrike and the risk of regional mayhem.

The developments unfolded as the International Atomic Energy Agency is due to focus on the Iranian program at a meeting later this month. The West wants to set a deadline for Iran to start cooperating with an agency probe of suspicions that Tehran is secretly experimenting with components of a weapons program.

Israeli leaders have said they favor a diplomatic solution, but recent days have seen a spate of Israeli media reports on a possible strike, accompanied by veiled threats from top politicians.

In a speech to parliament this week, Netanyahu said a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a "dire threat" to the world and "a grave, direct threat on us, too."


AP
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu... View Full Caption

His hawkish foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, was dismissive of the reports but added: "We are keeping all the options on the table."

The government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was discussing sensitive internal deliberations, told The Associated Press that the option is now being debated at the highest levels.

The official confirmed a report Wednesday in the Haaretz daily that Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak both favor an attack, but do not yet have the support of a majority of Cabinet ministers. The official also said Israel's top security chiefs, including the heads of the military and Mossad spy agency, oppose military action.

It is generally understood that such a momentous decision would require a Cabinet decision. Israel's 1981 destruction of Iraq's nuclear reactor was preceded by a Cabinet vote.

Netanyahu spokesman Mark Regev refused to comment on the issue but did say there is a "decision-making process which has stood the test of time. ... There have been precedents, and the process works."

With most of its population concentrated in a narrow corridor of land along the Mediterranean, Israel's homefront could be vulnerable to a counterattack.

Iran's military chief, Gen. Hasan Firouzabadi, said his country takes Israeli threats seriously and vowed fierce retaliation.

"We are fully prepared to use our proper equipment to punish any mistake so that it will cause a shock," he said in comments posted on the website of the Guard, Iran's most powerful military force.

Reflecting the mood in Israel, military expert Reuven Pedatzur wrote in Haaretz that "if anyone can save Israel from catastrophe, it is the Israeli air force commander," who might simply tell Netanyahu that an attack on Iran "cannot achieve its goals."

Several months ago, the newly retired head of the Mossad, Meir Dagan, caused a stir by warning publicly against attacking Iran, saying a strike would be "stupid" and would risk unleashing a region-wide war.


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Translation:  We all borrowed money that doesn't exist, and there is no one to pay it back, and these starving hordes are going to come kill us if we don't do something, so let's drop some big bombs and depopulate a little, that will also take the heat off of us.  

I don't buy for a second that Israel and the leadership of Iran are enemies ( as for the Persians themselves, you'd better believe they are enemies of Israel! )  No one can look more like a Jєωιѕн stooge than Ahmadinejad.  Please tell me,what about that guy is Muslim?   He looks like Sarkozy with a tan.  Actually Sarkozy, George W. Bush and Ahmadinejad all look alike, it must be some kind of politician thing.  But it wouldn't surprise me if the rumor is true that he's a Jєω, he looks it.  

If this does happen, it won't be a "war," it will just be the dropping of bombs which is given justification according to a Hollywood style script.  

Please tell me,what about that guy is Muslim?

To be fair, most Iranians aren't Arabs, but Arians.

Translation:  We all borrowed money that doesn't exist, and there is no one to pay it back, and these starving hordes are going to come kill us if we don't do something, so let's drop some big bombs and depopulate a little, that will also take the heat off of us.  

Reminds me of the satirical lyrics of Political Science by [Judaic] Randy Newman:

No one likes us-I don't know why
We may not be perfect, but heaven knows we try
But all around, even our old friends put us down
Let's drop the big one and see what happens

We give them money-but are they grateful?
No, they're spiteful and they're hateful
They don't respect us-so let's surprise them
We'll drop the big one and pulverize them

Asia's crowded and Europe's too old
Africa is far too hot
And Canada's too cold
And South America stole our name
Let's drop the big one
There'll be no one left to blame us

We'll save Australia
Don't wanna hurt no kangaroo
We'll build an All American amusement park there
They got surfin', too

Boom goes London and boom Paris
More room for you and more room for me
And every city the whole world round
Will just be another American town
Oh, how peaceful it will be
We'll set everybody free
You'll wear a Japanese kimono babe
And there'll be Italian shoes for me

They all hate us anyhow
So let's drop the big one now
Let's drop the big one now

Isfahan used to be called Yahoodieh some time in history because it was so full of Jєωs. There are good number of muslims with Jєωιѕн blood.

Ha, ha, ha.... yes, indeed.

Let's not forget what "the Messiah" Sabbatai Zevi did.

  Just finished watching VOA. They said attacking Iran is too costly so the will use cyber attack and terror iranian nuclear scientists.
  Still some people are rejoicing to know arbitrary hijab might be removed. :shocked: