Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — A leading pro-Israel think tank has determined that the Jewish state would not attack Iran.

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, with close ties to the Israeli leadership, has concluded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not order the destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities.

In a report, the institute said the prime minister would be restrained by the threat of a political backlash from the United States and the West.

“Against this background, the chances that Israel acts militarily against Iran over the next six months are, for all practical purposes, nil,” the report,” titled “Iran’s Nuclear Program Is Still Growing, And America’s Fist Is Shrinking,” said. “The political risks are just too great.”

Institute director Robert Satloff said the P5+1 deal with Iran has transformed Israel’s relationship with the United States into a “cold war.” Satloff, close to the administration of President Barack Obama, reported a
rupture between the two countries.

The report said an Israeli attack on Iran could destroy relations with
Washington. Instead, Netanyahu was expected to keep lobbying the U.S.
Congress to increase monitoring of the six-month interim deal with Teheran.

“Some legislators will also try to exploit a loophole in the Geneva deal
to expand non-nuclear sanctions, focusing on Iran’s continued support of
terrorism and worsening human rights record,” the report, dated Nov. 25,
said. “The administration can be expected to oppose all these measures as
contrary to the spirit of good faith promised in the Geneva text. A fight is
coming.”

Satloff, however, did not rule out an Israeli attack on Iran after the
expiration of the interim deal in May 2014. He said Netanyahu could exploit
U.S. elections in November 2014 to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“But if no final agreement is reached within six months and the
administration opts to extend the ‘first step’ deal beyond its initial term,
all bets are off,” the report said. “Israel may take that as a sign that the
temporary is becoming permanent, a common Middle East occurrence, and
consider itself free from the constraint of acting against a strategic
partner.”

  Benjamin Netanyahu, fearing U.S. backlash, Geneva agreement, Israel won’t strike Iran sites due to Western political concerns, Report: For now, Robert Satloff, Washington Institute for Near East Policy