Growing Concerns in Israel Over Possibility of Military Confrontation with Iran

Some Israeli experts have expressed skepticism about the success of the Trump administration’s approach toward Iran. Benjamin Netanyahu, in response to Iran’s reduction of JCPOA commitments, once again spoke of direct threats to Israel posed by this country.

Following Iran’s announcement of implementing the fourth step of reducing JCPOA commitments, serious discussions have emerged regarding the appropriate approach toward this country. An analyst from the newspaper “Frankfurter Allgemeine” has also examined this issue from the perspective of possible Israeli government policy and its consequences.

There is talk of increasing concerns in Israel about the possibility of a military confrontation with Iran. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, on the very day of the announcement of the fourth step of reducing JCPOA commitments (Tuesday, November 5), spoke of Iran’s expansion of aggressive policies in the region and Iran’s program for the destruction of Israel.

Israel’s Prime Minister also said that Israel will defend itself against Iranian attacks and will never allow this country to acquire nuclear weapons.

Several other countries have also expressed concern about Iran’s reduction of JCPOA commitments. Even Russia, while attributing the responsibility for this change in Iran’s approach regarding its nuclear activities to American policies, has expressed serious concern about Iran’s policy regarding the reduction of its commitments.

It is now said that the Islamic Republic has transferred two thousand kilograms of uranium gas to that region to activate the centrifuges in the Fordow nuclear facility.

Increasing Criticism of American Policy

Some Israeli commentators on Wednesday, November 6, have criticized the Trump administration’s policy regarding Iran’s nuclear agreement and failure to prevent the expansion of the Islamic Republic’s influence in the region.

According to their view, American policy has not achieved the goals set by this country. For example, America’s maximum pressure through intensifying sanctions on Iran has not led to the surrender of the Islamic Republic’s government.

Beyond that, it is said that Iran has become more active in the region and the possibility of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons compared to the Obama era and within the framework of the nuclear agreement has increased.

Although Israeli experts have predicted that the Islamic Republic of Iran has a long way to go before acquiring nuclear weapons, Dan Shapiro, the American ambassador to Israel, in an interview with the conservative newspaper “Times of Israel,” evaluated Iran’s recent actions as warning and referred to them as signs indicating the continuation of Iran’s reduction of JCPOA commitments.

Possibility of Military Confrontation

It is said that Israeli attacks on the positions of Iran’s allies in Iraq and Syria could increase the danger of military confrontation with Iran. The “Frankfurter Allgemeine” newspaper’s report refers to Iran’s missile capability.

Military experts of the Israeli army have expressed concern about Iran’s missile capability. According to their view, these missiles operate with high precision and have the capacity to target the heart of Israeli territory.

As an example, there has been talk of the possibility of an Iranian missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv or even this country’s Ministry of Defense building.

Israel has targeted hundreds of points in Iraqi and Syrian territory over the past months. For example, according to media reports, the Israeli air force targeted an airbase in Syria in August of this year. It is said that Iran had deployed lethal drones in this region; drones that were supposed to be used for attacks against Israel.

Beyond that, it has been said that military forces stationed in northern Israel are on full alert. The “Frankfurter Allgemeine” newspaper also referred to a meeting of Israeli military commanders regarding determining a solution to counter Iranian threats. A meeting that was held behind closed doors and no information about the decision of Israeli army commanders was released.

Source: DW