Barak: Netanyahu Considered Military Attack on Iran's Nuclear Sites Three Times

Ehud Barak, former Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Israel, revealed that Benjamin Netanyahu, the current Prime Minister, considered a military attack on Iran's nuclear sites three times in the years 2010, 2011, and 2012. Barak stated that in two instances in 2010 and 2011, the possibility of an attack seemed 'very serious' and 'imminent.' According to a report published on Friday, August 30, citing Barak, secret assessments at the highest levels in the country ended in both cases in 2010 and 2011, particularly due to a lack of sufficient consensus among ministers in sensitive positions and the then Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces. Barak noted that Netanyahu and then-Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman were very eager to carry out the attack. Barak also mentioned that he, along with Netanyahu, proposed the 2010 attack, but during a meeting with the participation of Netanyahu, the Foreign Minister, the Chief of Staff, the heads of Mossad and Shin Bet, and the commander of the military intelligence, General Gabi Ashkenazi, it was stated that he could not confidently say that the military was capable of bearing the consequences of such an operation. Barak said that Netanyahu held a meeting that same day with these seven individuals along with 23 other ministers and officials in sensitive positions, wanting to convince the 30-person meeting to approve the attack plan by hearing a 'yes' from General Ashkenazi. However, after Ashkenazi's response, Barak realized that Netanyahu did not want to face a situation where the Chief of Staff would later claim, 'I told you so!' In 2011, when General Benny Gantz was Chief of Staff, he stated that the military had more and even very satisfactory capabilities, but everyone needed to be resolute, and no one should say that the attack was carried out because of his comments about the military's full readiness. Barak mentioned that this time, Moshe Ya'alon and Yuval Steinitz, who initially seemed decisive, expressed 'regret' at the last moment and 'their knees shook.' Steinitz was the Minister of Finance at that time, and Ya'alon, as the Minister of Strategic Affairs, was responsible for coordinating between ministries, the military, and security agencies regarding Iran. However, according to Barak, another serious consideration for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities in 2012 was canceled for a 'different reason.' Barak stated that in 2012 everything was ready for an attack, but because a joint maneuver between Israel and the U.S. was on the way, which could create the impression that the U.S. was also partnering with Israel in the attack on Iran, the plan was canceled. Israel's Channel Two reported that the interview with Ehud Barak is part of a documentary film based on Barak's biography, written by Israeli journalists Dani Dor and Ilan Kfir, from hundreds of hours of close conversations with Barak. However, according to this network, the Israeli military censorship has intervened and prevented the release of all the material that the network intended to broadcast based on Barak's statements. Steinitz, who later became the Minister of Strategic Affairs and is currently responsible for the 'Iran file,' expressed strong anger at Barak's revelations. The Haaretz newspaper reported on Saturday, August 31, that Steinitz's office stated that Barak's remarks are 'serious' and he is 'surprised at how the most confidential security meetings in Israel are disclosed and how the country's censorship allows this to be broadcast?' Steinitz added that he is not willing to confirm or deny these statements and that he only expresses his views in confidential meetings. Ya'alon, who has held the Defense Ministry in recent years, also expressed his deep displeasure with Barak's statements, and his office stated to Haaretz that 'half-truths from high-level confidential meetings, especially when there are specific motives behind them, are not of interest to Ya'alon.' The years that Ehud Barak referred to regarding the consideration of a military attack on Iran's nuclear facilities are periods in which Meir Dagan, former head of Mossad, expressed deep concern about 'catastrophic consequences' and 'the occurrence of a regional war just five minutes after the start of Israel's attack on Iran.' Dagan even once stated: 'These attacks could lead to the end of Israel.'