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Israel's move toward early vote may shelve any attack on Iran
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Source: LA Times
May 03, 2012
News >> Browse Articles >> Military
Source: LA Times
May 03, 2012
mz66
about 1 year ago
3462 Comments
Excerpt:
At the same time, Netanyahu is unlikely to risk the comfortable lead most polls give him over his rivals by launching a risky, complicated operation against Iran. A bungled or failed strike is one of the few things that could stand in the way of his reelection, analysts say.
Early elections are just one complication that make an imminent attack less likely. Some Israeli leaders are voicing skepticism about such an operation and warn that it could trigger a regional war.
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz recently called the Iranian government "rational," a boon to those who say international sanctions may compel Iranian leaders to alter their behavior. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said over the weekend that the U.S., not Israel, should lead any military strike.
And in some of the most stinging criticism to date, former Shin Bet security agency head Yuval Diskin accused Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak of "misleading the public" about the Iranian threat and acting out of a "messianic" drive.