Israel's Amidror: "We don't need permission... We have our own sovereignty"

Financial Times: Israel steps up rhetoric ahead of Iran talks

... Yaakov Amidror – one of Mr Netanyahu’s closest associates until he stepped down in October – told the Financial Times that his country’s military could stop Iran’s nuclear programme “for a very long time”. There was “no question” that Mr Netanyahu would be prepared to make the decision to strike unilaterally if necessary.

“We don’t need permission from anyone – we are an independent state,” said Mr Amidror, who has known Mr Netanyahu since 1969 and served as his national security adviser for two-and-a-half years. “We have our own sovereignty. If Israel is in a position in which Israel must defend itself, Israel will do it.”

 

As longtime BtB readers know, I've always been a great admirer of General Amidror. 

http://bokertov.typepad.com/btb/2006/08/gen_amidror.html

I find the timing of his recent resignation from the position of National Security Advisor both mystifying and disconcerting but then again, it's probably better that I don't understand it... as long as the mullahs in Iran are equally confused.

 

See also "Obama's Fight With Israel: This Time It's Serious" -- at Politico.

It is clear that the current crisis could have been avoided. The question now is whether it can be remedied.

 

It was likely not remedied on the golf course yesterday, nor does today's presidential schedule look particularly promising:

10:15 am || Receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
11:00 am || Meets with senior advisors
3:30 pm || Meets with Secretary of Treasury Lew

Comments

[Mannie Sherberg]

A successful Israeli strike against Iran -- without American participation -- could well be one of the best things that ever happened to Israel. Let's face it: the world at large -- the world whose hatred of Jews becomes louder and shriller by the day -- won't give Israel an iota of respect or admiration because a Philippine baby was born in an Israeli field hospital. Decency and mercy are not qualities the world-at-large respects or admires. But power -- raw, brute power -- is another matter. The world-at-large may detest Jews and Israel, but it respects naked power -- the more destructive the better. An Israeli strike against Iran that puts the Iranian nuke project out of commission for even a few years would do more to strengthen Israel's place in the world than all the acts of rachmones combined. Cynical? No. Simply one of the fundamental lessons of world history.