WikiLeaks Document on Hillary Clinton's Views Regarding Israel's Attack on Iran

According to newly released documents on the WikiLeaks whistleblower website, Hillary Clinton believed that a U.S. military attack on Iran's nuclear facilities to stop the country's nuclear program might be necessary, but at the same time, she thought such an attack would cause the most harm to Israel itself. The WikiLeaks website emphasized that Clinton's views, the current Democratic presidential candidate, were expressed on various occasions during a time when she was no longer Secretary of State. The Jerusalem Post also republished details from the recently released WikiLeaks documents. Israeli media reported on Sunday, October 25, based on new documents released by WikiLeaks, that Clinton made these comments when there was talk of a possible Israeli military attack on Iran's nuclear sites. Senior former military and security officials in Israel had revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the support of then-Defense Minister Ehud Barak, had ordered military readiness for an attack on Iran three times. However, based on the materials leaked by WikiLeaks, Clinton believed that an Israeli attack on Iran would yield minimal results and would have severe consequences for Israel itself. Hillary Clinton, who served as Secretary of State for four years under Barack Obama's first administration, is now one of the two leading candidates for the U.S. presidential election on November 8. Clinton believed that if a political solution regarding Iran was not effective, the military option should be the last resort, and stated that the U.S. had the real capability and necessary weapons to strike Iran's nuclear sites. In her campaign, Clinton has emphasized that she defends the nuclear agreement with Iran and that the JCPOA is the best mechanism to resolve one of the world's most complex issues. Clinton considered a joint attack against Iran to be 'more effective' than a unilateral Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. According to the Jerusalem Post on Tuesday, October 27, Clinton had stated that the U.S. had the capability and necessary weapons to inflict serious damage on Iran's nuclear sites. Clinton emphasized the need to prevent Iran's nuclear program, not just to impose restrictions or contain it. The newly released WikiLeaks disclosure refers to Clinton's remarks in 2013 at Goldman Sachs, during a speech she gave there and subsequent discussions with Lloyd Blankfein, the CEO of the financial institution. Clinton's comments pertain to a time when more than a year had passed since her tenure as Secretary of State; during the summer and early fall of 2013, Iran's nuclear facilities, such as Fordow, the Arak heavy water reactor, and thousands of Iran's centrifuges were still operational. The current Democratic presidential candidate's campaign has not confirmed the accuracy of the WikiLeaks materials. According to WikiLeaks, Clinton stated in her 2013 remarks, 'As you know, the Israelis have examined the issue of a military attack on Iran over the years; they believe that if an attack can delay Iran's nuclear program for even a few years, it is worth doing, and they can tolerate whatever their (Iranian) response may be.' However, Clinton added that the Israelis cannot 'do this alone and rely on themselves.' Clinton referred to the heavy bunker-busting and penetrating bombs that the U.S. possesses for attacking the underground Fordow site in Qom, stating that if one cannot penetrate the protective layers of the sites and reach the uranium-enriching centrifuges, one cannot delay Iran's nuclear program. Clinton stated that an air military attack on Iran without a footprint of ground forces is sufficient. The Pentagon had expedited the production of smart heavy bombs at the direction of Barack Obama in 2009. Israel had been seeking heavy bunker-busting bombs from the U.S. since 2005, but former President George W. Bush had refrained from fulfilling this request. In her 2013 remarks to American bankers and investors, Clinton stated that if Iran has the necessary components for its nuclear program, even if three parts of it are kept in one container, it can still rapidly expand its nuclear program and reach nuclear weapons; after that, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and even the UAE would follow suit. Clinton's remarks in other instances also supported a military attack on Iran to prevent its nuclear program, prior to the start of intensive negotiations between Iran and global powers that led to the JCPOA. However, Clinton, in comments made very close to the start of those negotiations, stated that negotiations should also be given a chance for success and should be tried. Hillary Clinton endorsed the JCPOA, the nuclear agreement reached last year between Iran and six world powers, calling it a victory 'even without firing a bullet,' but her reception of this agreement was cautious. Clinton, stating that she is among those who have always emphasized that Iran has no right to enrich uranium, believes that 'all options are still on the table.' Nevertheless, WikiLeaks in the documents released in recent days stated that Israel has concerns about Clinton's potential victory because the government she is likely to form would be a continuation of the Obama administration; a government that, from Israel's perspective, 'has always been inclined towards Iran.' According to WikiLeaks and based on statements from Israeli diplomats in meetings with American officials, Netanyahu's concern is about the inclination of potential ministers in the government that Clinton would form if she wins, who may want to 'show flexibility towards Iran.' Meanwhile, these Israeli diplomats added that Netanyahu trusts Clinton herself and considers her to be tougher than Obama regarding Iran. WikiLeaks documents also state that Hillary Clinton believes that 'peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians—even if futile—are better than no political contact between the parties in this long-standing conflict.'