Former senior officials in the intelligence community warn that preparations must be made as soon as possible for the possibility of a military confrontation with Iran or its metastases, this in light of the nuclear agreement taking shape.
In a conversation with Israel Hayom, Amos Gilad, former head of the political-security division in the Ministry of Defense, and Yaakov Amidror, former head of the National Security Council, said that any attempt to influence the prevention of the nuclear agreement is hopeless, and therefore Israel should be ready as soon as possible for the possibility of action on the roads military to prevent danger from Israel.
"The Iranian threat is a major strategic threat to the State of Israel. It must be understood that this is not just a vision, but that the Iranians are investing enormous efforts to become possessors of very threatening capabilities. According to foreign publications, they have in Lebanon 150,000 rockets aimed at Israel, long-range missiles, Cyber capabilities and terrorism, and above all - the fact that they are on the verge of going nuclear," says Gilad.
Amos Gilad,
"This is a bad agreement, and it is good that Israel said that it does not bind it in the clearest way," says Amidror.
"The diplomatic options were exhausted after the Americans decided to pursue an agreement at almost any cost. I don't see any way that does not include force to convince the Iranians, because Iran does not stop under any diplomatic or economic pressure. This requires us to make sure that we are prepared for a military option."
Regional illusion
Gilad also believes that this is a bad agreement, but that this is a situation where all options are bad.
"The question is whether to go with the US or ship it.
The US will decide to enter into an agreement with us or without us, and we have the ability to influence the matter. If we rhetorically attack them, we will gain nothing. We must understand that we cannot attack Iran without coordination with the US for various reasons.
That is why it is possible to have a sharp dialogue with the US, but not in a public way. We must strengthen the ties with the Western countries and the emerging ties with the Arab countries. This is a force multiplier, but at the same time we must not fall into the illusion that there will be a regional NATO here."
Defense Minister Gantz in his meeting with Sullivan in Washington, photo: Yossi May
"If Iran gets a nuclear bomb," says Gilad, "they will terrorize the entire Middle East, and the entire region could degenerate into a nuclear race. Our advantage is that we have the image of having strategic capabilities, and we could be seen in a completely different light in a nuclear Middle East." .
Free pass from America
Gilad agrees with Amidror and says that advanced military capabilities must be developed immediately.
"We need to build military power on the basis of our capabilities and American aid. We may be in a conflict with Lebanon as early as next month, and therefore we need massive protection of the country and maximizing ties with Arab countries."
Yaakov Amidror, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Gilad is also troubled by the internal situation in Israel: "Instead of dealing with the threat from outside, we are busy with election campaigns and wasting billions of shekels. It is unbelievable how such a genius nation is also so stupid. We cannot be busy wasting money and strikes instead of focusing on the real threat."
Brigadier General (ret.) Yossi Kupervasser, former head of the research division at the AMN and a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Public and State Affairs, says that "despite the declarations of the US that it will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, at this stage it will no longer be able to prevent it From it - Iran will be too close to the target."
Lt. Col. (retd.) Michael Segal, former head of the Iran field at the AMN and a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Public and State Affairs, estimates that following the expiration dates for restrictions on uranium enrichment, Iran will be able in the coming years to take advantage of the knowledge and equipment it has accumulated to upgrade its ballistic missiles , and hack the bomb as soon as the restrictions expire.
He emphasizes that there are "fruits of the agreement that will be seen in the short term: a significant strengthening of Hezbollah, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, the Shia militias in Iraq and Syria, and the subversive Shia elements in the Gulf countries."
Brigadier General Yossi Kopervasser, photo: Eric-Sultan
Dr. Yoel Gozhansky, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies and former holder of the Iran and Persian Gulf portfolio at the MLA, tells "Israel Today" that "the agreement that is taking shape is bad, but it is the least bad. Right now I don't see an alternative in the form of action Israel wants to, but it is not certain that it can, and the US can but does not want to.
"There is a question mark to what extent the US will act against Iran under an agreement, and not limit itself.
Under Obama, Iran got a free 'pass' in the region, and I hope it won't be the same under Biden."
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