Israeli liberals said to hamper preparations for war with Iran
U.S. officials said last week that despite increased tensions and the ongoing war of words between the West and Iran, Israel is not fully prepared for any attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Senior Israeli defense sources were quoted in the Israeli press as saying that contrary to U.S. based news reports that Israel could attack Iran by the end of 2008, Israeli remains “critically behind” in preparations due to years of neglect and cuts in weapons and budgets.
U.S. defense officials said Israel’s military and defense establishment has been hamstrung in recent years by liberals who view such preparations as furthering a conflict.
Israel has cut back on weapons development and military training in recent years, as well as on intelligence assets.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Baraq briefly addressed the Iranian nuclear threat during a meeting of the Socialist International in Greece, recently noting that “the Iranian nuclear program poses a challenge on a global scale, and I will say nothing further.”
Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilna'i recently told reserve soldiers at an IDF base “This is not only our problem; it includes foreign agencies, intelligence, and the Israel Air Force (IAF)… We know how to do it.”
