Israelis will tell Panetta that U.S. can’t prevent an attack on Iran: report
Wednesday, 01 August 2012
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in Israel on Tuesday after meeting in Cairo with Egypt’s new president and its military chief. (Reuters)
Israel’s threats to attack Iran and the violence convulsing Syria top the agenda of U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s meetings Wednesday with Israeli government leaders, as well as efforts to prevent Syria’s chemical weapons from reaching Lebanon.
Panetta arrived in Israel on Tuesday after meeting in Cairo with Egypt’s new president and its military chief.
In Cairo, Panetta denied Israeli press reports that he planned to share with the Israelis any U.S. plans for military action against Iran. He said the reports gave a “wrong characterization” of what he and the Israeli leaders were expected to discuss.
Panetta arrived in Israel on Tuesday after meeting in Cairo with Egypt’s new president and its military chief.
In Cairo, Panetta denied Israeli press reports that he planned to share with the Israelis any U.S. plans for military action against Iran. He said the reports gave a “wrong characterization” of what he and the Israeli leaders were expected to discuss.
He said his talks in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak would be more about what threat Iran’s nuclear program represents and about sharing intelligence information.
A senior government official was quoted by Haaretz as saying that even if Israel attacks Iran over Washington’s objections, he doesn't think the United States will turn its back on Israel. Israel must retain sole responsibility for its security, he told the newspaper.
While no decision on an Israeli strike has yet been made, a complex campaign is being waged over the issue on at least three fronts: between the Obama administration and the Israeli government; between President Barack Obama and his rival, Republican candidate Mitt Romney; and between politicians and defense professionals within Israel. All sides are making heavy use of the media, according to the Haaretz report.
Along the past 48 hours, Panetta acknowledged that sanctions haven’t persuaded Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, but insisted that they have had a major impact on Iran’s economy. What’s needed is to keep up the international pressure, he said.
Panetta also denied that Israel and the U.S. would discuss detailed military plans against Iran, but said they would “continue to work on a number of options.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that “things that affect our fate, our very existence, we don’t entrust to others -- not even to our best friends. Obama and Romney both said that Israel has the right to defend itself against any threat, and we are obligated to make the decisions.”
The public statements have been accompanied by an unprecedented campaign of American leaks, including Haaretz’s report that Netanyahu was shown American plans for attacking Iran, Yedioth Ahronoth’s report that America would attack Iran within a year and a half, and a surprising report about how Israel eavesdrops on the CIA in Tel Aviv.
According to Haaretz, the bottom line of all these reports is that America is committed to decisive action against Iran, but not now.
A senior government official was quoted by Haaretz as saying that even if Israel attacks Iran over Washington’s objections, he doesn't think the United States will turn its back on Israel. Israel must retain sole responsibility for its security, he told the newspaper.
While no decision on an Israeli strike has yet been made, a complex campaign is being waged over the issue on at least three fronts: between the Obama administration and the Israeli government; between President Barack Obama and his rival, Republican candidate Mitt Romney; and between politicians and defense professionals within Israel. All sides are making heavy use of the media, according to the Haaretz report.
Along the past 48 hours, Panetta acknowledged that sanctions haven’t persuaded Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, but insisted that they have had a major impact on Iran’s economy. What’s needed is to keep up the international pressure, he said.
Panetta also denied that Israel and the U.S. would discuss detailed military plans against Iran, but said they would “continue to work on a number of options.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that “things that affect our fate, our very existence, we don’t entrust to others -- not even to our best friends. Obama and Romney both said that Israel has the right to defend itself against any threat, and we are obligated to make the decisions.”
The public statements have been accompanied by an unprecedented campaign of American leaks, including Haaretz’s report that Netanyahu was shown American plans for attacking Iran, Yedioth Ahronoth’s report that America would attack Iran within a year and a half, and a surprising report about how Israel eavesdrops on the CIA in Tel Aviv.
According to Haaretz, the bottom line of all these reports is that America is committed to decisive action against Iran, but not now.
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