U.S. attempts to reassure Israel of its commitment to the country’s security have backfired, writes Yossi Klein Halevi.
Lacking confidence in the ability or willingness of the “international community” to halt Iran’s nuclear program, Israelis are preparing for yet another defensive war, knowing that they’ll be damned if they do ………
The invisible but all-pervasive presence on that cheerful map of existential dread is Iran. If Israel were to launch a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, Tehran’s two terrorist allies on our borders—Hezbollah and Hamas—would almost certainly renew attacks against the Israeli home front. And Tel Aviv would be hit by Iranian long-range missiles.
And damned if they don’t………
On the other hand, if Israel refrains from attacking Iran and international efforts to stop its nuclearization fail, the results along our border would likely be even more catastrophic. Hezbollah and Hamas would be emboldened politically and psychologically. The threat of a nuclear attack on Tel Aviv would become a permanent part of Israeli reality. This would do incalculable damage to Israel’s sense of security.
