We can't, and shouldn't, ignore the Israeli consensus on Iran
James Forsyth 4:52pm
Shimon Peres is a man of the Israeli centre-left and someone who has repeatedly tried to make peace. So, it is worth noting what the Israeli president said about Iran--and how similar is to what Netanyahu says about the subject—in an interview with Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic.
JG: Is there a chance that Israel is over-reacting to the language that comes out of Tehran? Let me ask this another way: Is it possible to over-learn the lessons of Jewish history?
SP: If we have to make a mistake of overreaction or underreaction, I think I prefer the overreaction to underreaction.
There is an Israeli consensus on Iran. For obvious and understandable reasons, they don’t want Iran—a state that refuses to recognises its existence and whose president talks about its destruction—to go nuclear.
If the Israelis conclude that no one else will act to stop Iran gaining nuclear weapons, then there is a significant chance that they will feel compelled to act themselves. Those who think the United States and the West should ignore this factor in their thinking about the Iran problem are just being unrealistic.
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Austin Barry
May 7th, 2009 5:27pm Report this commentI wonder how much of the foot-dragging and inertia by the United States and the West is deliberately designed to frustrate Israel into launching an attack on Iran.
Raj Curry
May 7th, 2009 5:34pm Report this commentNow that George Bush is no longer at the helm,if Israel chooses to act alone, its nothing to do with us
JONNY
May 7th, 2009 5:56pm Report this comment'I prefer the overreaction to underreaction.'
Yes indeed.
Israel has consistently over-reacted for the last 40 years.
And it's been small poor countries like Palestine and Lebanon that have had to pay the price.
David Lindsay
May 7th, 2009 6:33pm Report this commentNone of our business.
And we're skint, anyway.
seb
May 7th, 2009 7:37pm Report this commentYes, it is poor countries like Palestine and Lebanon that have paid the price. It is not fair that centuries of pogroms and genocide conducted against one people should result in any injustice being inflicted on another. Equally as odious is the collective pretence by that 'civilisation' which carried out the original pogroms and genocide that, heywhaddahaknow, they have nothing to do with it and had nothing to do with it and it's just the inexplicable awfulness of the Israelis and Jews that explains it. After the Ottoman Empire was defeated, aliens from another planet, not French or British statesmen, moronically and cynically dismembered it. Hitler came to power and, heywhaddaknow, nobody, not a soul, noticed him until it was too late.
Yes. Now we're skint, we can use that as an excuse. Everyone, Jews and Palestinians alike, must be so pleased for us that we've always had an excuse. What else matters?
Forlornehope
May 7th, 2009 9:06pm Report this commentHere's a thought. Iran wants Israel to attack its nuclear installations. This will give Iran a reason to retaliate that most other countries would accept. Iran already has far more long range missiles than it could ever equip with nuclear warheads. The last Lebanon war showed how Israel can be paralysed by missile attacks. Iran could aim to turn Israel into Gaza writ large. Because of the disparity in the size of the countries, Israel's only effective response would be nuclear. If Israel used it, that could be the end of Israel. Probably too cunning, but the Persians were playing chess long before the Russians made it their national game.
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