“I want to make it clear, we will make our own decisions and Israel will do whatever is necessary to defend itself,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
Mr Netanyahu met foreign ministers from Britain and Germany who are visiting Jerusalem, arguing that Israel retains the right to self-defence after Iran’s missile and drone attack.
“Our allies are making various suggestions and advice, I appreciate that, but I want to make it clear that we will do everything possible to protect ourselves,” he added.
At the same time, he thanked Israel’s allies for helping to prevent Iran’s attack: “I thank our friends for their support in defending Israel, support in both words and deeds.”
For her part, German Foreign Minister Analena Burbock said she made it clear during her talks with Benjamin Netanyahu that the Middle East should not slide into a situation whose outcome is completely unpredictable. “Because that wouldn’t serve anyone,” she declared.
“Neither the security of Israel, nor the many dozens of hostages still in the hands of Hamas, nor the suffering population of Gaza, nor the many people in Iran who themselves suffer from the regime, nor the third countries in the region that they just want to live in peace,” he added.
The scenarios that Israel’s military leadership is considering
In their analysis, the New York Times talks about various options being considered by Israel’s military leadership, which will send the necessary clear message to Iran, but without provoking an open war, which the US and their allies.
The four options and their disadvantages according to the New York Times
- An offensive strike on an Iranian target, such as a Revolutionary Guards base, but outside of Iran, in a country such as Syria. The downside is that such an option is disproportionate to a direct attack by Iran on Israeli soil
- A strike on a symbolic target on Iranian soil, but such a move would require consultation with the US and risk angering Washington, which has expressed its opposition to such a strike.
- A cyber attack on Iranian infrastructure. Such a move, however, would prematurely expose Israel’s capabilities in this type of warfare and would not be a similar response to an airstrike like Iran’s.
- Accelerating small-scale attacks on Iranian soil, including targeted assassinations to be carried out by the Mossad. For such attacks, however, Israel does not claim responsibility and so they fall short of public recognition within a strike like that of Iran
Because of the complex preparations necessary for a perfectly coordinated strike that should achieve its goal, the decision – whatever it is – could change suddenly, sources told the Jerusalem Post, but the seriousness of the Israeli leadership’s determination for a blow is strong.
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