Haaretz – Infinite Unknown

Flashback:

– Heads Of Mossad And Shin Bet May Have Leaked Plans For Attack On Iran, PM Netanyahu Orders An Investigation (Guardian, Nov. 3, 2011):

… the main suspects are the former heads of the Mossad and the Shin Bet, respectively Israel’s foreign and domestic intelligence agencies.Netanyahu is said to believe that the two, Meir Dagan and Yuval Diskin, wanted to torpedo plans being drawn up by him and Ehud Barak, the defence minister, to hit Iranian nuclear sites.

In January the recently retired Dagan, a hawk when he was running the Mossad, called an attack on Iran “the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard“.

– Israeli Military Chief: Iran Won’t Develop Nuclear Weapons (Antiwar, April 24, 2012):

Adding to the hope that the constant threats of war are empty ones, Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz today expressed confidence of a diplomatic solution with Iran, adding that he didn’t think Iran would attempt to develop nuclear weapons.

The comments, made in a high profile interview with Israeli newspaper Haaretz on the occasion of Israeli Independence Day, also include an admonishment to avoid “hysteria” about Iran’s program. This probably won’t sit well with the nation’s civilian leadership, which is constantly claiming Iran is “close” to nuclear weapons capability.

The interview in the Israeli press was in stark contrast to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s interview with US media outlet CNN, in which he insisted that there were no questions about Iran’s nuclear weapons program and that the international sanctions had “better work soon.”

Read moreIsraeli Military Chief: Iran Won’t Develop Nuclear Weapons, Warns Against ‘Hysteria’ As Netanyahu Threatens Attack Again

Contrary to some claims that the Bush administration will allow diplomacy to handle Iran’s nuclear weapons program, a leading member of America’s Jewish community tells Newsmax that a military strike is not only on the table – but likely.

“Israel is preparing for heavy casualties,” the source said, suggesting that although Israel will not take part in the strike, it is expecting to be the target of Iranian retribution.

“Look at Dick Cheney’s recent trip through the Middle East as preparation for the U.S. attack,” the source said.

Cheney’s hastily arranged 9-day visit to the region, which began on March 16, included stops in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Turkey, and the Palestinian territories.

Tensions in the region have been rising.

While Israel was conducting the largest homefront military exercises in its history last week, Israel’s National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer warned Tehran about expected attacks on the Jewish state.

“An Iranian attack will prompt a severe reaction from Israel, which will destroy the Iranian nation,” he said.

He predicted that in a future war, “hundreds of missiles will rain on Israel,” but added that Iran “is definitely aware of our strength.”