Haaretz reports:
Israel would not withstand a regional conflict ignited by an Israeli strike of Iran’s nuclear facilities, former Mossad chief Meir Dagan said on Wednesday, adding that Israel did not have the capability to stop Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, just to delay them.
In his first public appearance since leaving the post in September, Dagan said earlier this month that the possibility a future Israel Air Force attack on Iranian nuclear facilities was “the stupidest thing I have ever heard.”
Speaking during a conference in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Dagan continued his public rejection of a military move against Iran, saying that Israel didn’t “have the capability to stop the Iranian nuclear program, only to delay it.”
“If anyone seriously considers [a strike] he needs to understand that he’s dragging Israel into a regional war that it would not know how to get out of. The security challenge would become unbearable,” Dagan said.
The former Mossad chief reiterated his position, saying that the “military option is the last alternative, not preferred or possible, but a last resort. Every other alternative must be weighed before the use of force.”
Referring to those who criticized him for speaking out on these matters soon after his retirement, Dagan said: “I feel obligated to express my opinion on certain matters. The prime minister and defense minister are the ones in charge, but sometimes good sense and a good decision don’t have anything to do with being elected.”
I wonder how much influence he wields with his words? It’s certainly evident that Israel couldn’t get the U.S. to bomb Iran, though they sure tried to instigate it happening.
I think the Ex Mossad Chief expressed his view in the wake of the hard times Israel is already in due to Arab Spring and the fast changing geopolitical reality of the region. Balance of power is already shifting in a direction not conducive to Israel or USA.
Israel is evidently isolated by Egypt and Turkey the two key allies in the Muslim world. The stranglehod of Gaza has been eased up by permanent opening of Rafah crossing amid Israeli objection and the looming arrival of another Turkey sponsored Gaza Flotillas in the coming days bear witness to this fact.
In the contrary, Iran enjoys increasingly better relation with these two countries. The Saudis and the GCC countries may have different ideas vis-à-vis the Islamic Republic than post Mobarak Egypt and Turkey, nevertheless they will not be in a mood to support Israeli cause to avoid alienation of already fuming citizenry. The Arab awakening has already put the Monarchs of these countries in disdainful situation in the eyes of Muslims in general and Arabs in particular—– beyond their domain.
By attacking Iran or any part of it, Israel will put itself into an unretreatable situation of self destruction. The reason is very simple—– Iran so far did not indicate of shying away from massive retaliation in the previous threats of attack posed by Israel or the US. The question is whether Israel is in a position to stomach potential retaliation by Iran! Can the US prevent the probable mass exodus of jews from Tel Aviv, Haifa and other cities!