may have to strike Iran preemptively to stop it from gaining nuclear weapons, but he didn’t even hint that Israel would launch any attack on its own.
Moshe Yaalon spoke in an interview with Russia’s Interfax news agency prior to a visit to Moscow.
He didn’t say what countries might launch such an attack, but emphasized that the entire world, not just Israel, must be concerned with the danger of a nuclear-armed Iran.
Although the Islamic Republic repeatedly talks about Israeli threats to attack Iran, Israeli officials actually avoid making such threats. Many Israeli officials fear that other countries, chiefly in Europe, are just sitting back waiting for Israel to strike Iran and eliminate the problem for them. Then, Israelis calculate, the Europeans will condemn Israel for being so violent while pocketing the benefits of Israeli action.
Internationally, Israel has emphasized for several years that the Iran “problem” is an international one and not one for Israel to address solo. At the same time, Israeli governments always need to appear tough before domestic audiences and try to flex their muscles about Iran when talking to domestic audiences.
But officials of the inner cabinet, which handles national security issues, avoid threats. The most dramatic example is that of Avigdor Lieberman, who made almost weekly threatening remarks against Iran while a member of the opposition. Since becoming foreign minister two years ago, he has fallen silent.