Three ex-security chiefs says Israel's relationship with the US is at a crossroads

Published: 27 April 2021

Last updated: 4 March 2024

As Iran deal looms, will Israel’s government engage with Biden or fight him?

EFRAIM HALEVY, AHARON ZEEVI FARKASH, CHUCK FREILICH
Israel stands today at a strategic crossroads, before two interrelated decisions of critical importance: Iran, and our relationship with the United States. The U.S. is determined to return to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement and, apparently, so too is Iran. Barring any some major surprise, this is probably a done deal.

In these circumstances, as former heads of Israel's national security and intelligence agencies, we recommend that Israel adopt, now, a comprehensive policy towards Iran based on these seven components.

First, strategic patience.

Iran still does not have a nuclear weapon. Israel's Military Intelligence recently assessed that it would take at least two years to complete from the moment the political leadership in Tehran made the decision to develop one, and that decision has not been forthcoming for many years.

Thus instead of scaring Israelis with alarmist descriptions of both the immediacy and existential nature of the Iranian threat, it would be more appropriate to broadcast a far different message, one that is much closer to Israel’s strategic reality.

Israel, which was established, inter alia, to ensure that no one could ever again threaten the Jewish people with annihilation, still faces significant threats, but its existence has been guaranteed.

FULL STORY On Iran and America, Israel must now make fateful strategic choices (Haaretz)

Photo: Seb Scheiner/AP