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Former Mossad Chief Ephraim Halevy. (Daniel Bar-On / Jini)
Last update - 07:27 26/07/2008
Report: Ex-Mossad chief says strike on Iran could 'affect us for 100 years'
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Iran, nuclear, U.S., Mossad

Former Mossad Chief Ephraim Halevy told Time magazine in an interview published Thursday that an Israeli attack on Iran "could have an impact on us for the next 100 years" and should only be considered as a last resort.

Halevy, who currently heads the Center for Strategic and Policy Studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, added that an Iranian attack on Israel would probably have little impact, because Iranian missiles would largely be intercepted by Israel's advanced anti-missile defense system.

Another former senior Mossad official, who reportedly served during Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's administration, told the American magazine that "Iran's achievement is creating an image of itself as a scary superpower when it's really a paper tiger."
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An additional Israeli source told Time that Israel sees the period between the U.S. elections in November and the president's inauguration in January as the "window of opportunity" for a possible attack on Iran. The source explained that any military move against Iran would not be carried out before the elections, because it would negatively impact the presidential candidates, especially Republican candidate John McCain and "No Israel leader wants to be blamed for destroying the Republican chances," Time cited the source as saying.

However, the magazine quoted intelligence sources as saying that an Israeli attack on Iran would likely stall the Islamic republic's nuclear aspirations only by "a year or two."

Launching a long-range strike against a multitude of hidden targets in Iran entails huge risks and uncertain rewards, which makes the cost-benefit analysis weigh against an air strike on Iran, according to some senior Israeli officials who urge caution.


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      1.   He has it backwards 21:48  |  Natallie Durson 25/07/08
      2.   Was he too one of the geniuses recomending Oslo? 21:48  |  Absolute Sweden 25/07/08
      3.   A Question for Halevy 22:04  |  marat 25/07/08
      4.   How many is "largely", Mr. Halevy? 22:11  |  Joe Camel 25/07/08
      5.   Attack destroying infrastructure would help 22:12  |  Slappy 25/07/08
      6.   Yes "In a good way" 22:14  |  Carl 25/07/08
      7.   Iran doesn`t have to be too accurate? #1 22:14  |  Slappy 25/07/08
      8.   Are likudnik neocons a mullah conspiracy? 22:22  |  Jason 25/07/08
      9.   Natallie Durson 22:22  |  Tal 25/07/08
      10.   Mossad better revise their estimates 22:27  |  Joe 25/07/08
      11.   Ben Jabo Ben Tize can protect Israel if it decides to attack Iran 22:27  |  Aounist 25/07/08
      12.   gross exaggeration 22:29  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/07/08
      13.   Iran should name a street after Netanyahu 22:30  |  Jason 25/07/08
      14.   Israel won`t use its hand 22:34  |  Harold 25/07/08
      15.   WHAT`S HALEVY TALKING ABOUT??? 22:40  |  Robert 25/07/08
      16.   This is why it is urgent for Iran to take israel to the Hague,it 22:51  |  lakshmi 25/07/08
      17.   Over reaction, and anyway it all depends 22:55  |  Jeremy 25/07/08
      18.   Strike could affect us for 100 years 22:55  |  American 25/07/08
      19.   He has it backwards, again 22:55  |  Maki 25/07/08
      20.   Here`s the truth - the Iranians would rebuild, and rapidly 23:09  |  Clickfool 25/07/08
      21.   Request for Cipora # 12 23:13  |  Clickfool 25/07/08
      22.   Reply to #2 ( Absolute Sweden) - Spot On 23:15  |  Tod Zuckerman 25/07/08
      23.   Last time I contacted the Oracle it said Israel will lose 23:18  |  Andreas 25/07/08
      24.   TO Durson 23:18  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 25/07/08
      25.   in decline 23:20  |  rick 25/07/08
      26.   A WARNING TO ISRAEL 23:23  |  Arik Silverman 25/07/08
      27.   I`d say Israel will be a super power for a Thousand Yerars. 23:24  |  Andreas 25/07/08
      28.   Iran Attack on Israel and vice versa 23:35  |  Amarilys Pons 25/07/08
      29.   Israel dont strike Iran first 23:40  |  Dik 25/07/08
      30.   Iran`s proxy would get the bomb 23:41  |  Gregor 25/07/08
      31.   Nuclear exchange Israel vs Iran 23:56  |  X-Military 25/07/08
      32.   Iran is only becoming richer and they are determined 00:01  |  Mark B. 26/07/08
      33.   And whom helped them/ 00:09  |  Mark Lincoln 26/07/08
      34.   A nuke has little effect? Excuse me?! 00:12  |  Gili 26/07/08
      35.   Iran needs to be attacked to get public support 00:16  |  Bushed 26/07/08
      36.   #5 Slap Yourself 00:47  |  James 26/07/08
      37.   israeli aid to iran 00:50  |  james 26/07/08
      38.   Respect! 01:02  |  Ali Gee 26/07/08
      39.   Dont strike 01:04  |  Philip Kaye 26/07/08
      40.   The 100 years 01:12  |  Guy From NYC 26/07/08
      41.   How Does Making Iran A Resort Affect Us For 100 Years? 01:56  |  Yosemite 26/07/08
      42.   To CJK, Clickfool (#21) 01:59  |  Morris Valentine 26/07/08
      43.   Iran as a 21st century Suez 01:59  |  MARK KLEIN, M.D. 26/07/08
      44.   I am Glad he is an EX Mossad chief ! 02:03  |  Avi 26/07/08
      45.   To Guy from NY 02:05  |  Morris Valentine 26/07/08
      46.   A NUCLEAR CLOUD FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS 02:14  |  indrajaya 26/07/08
      47.   I assure Israel, it will be the end if they attack Iran 02:24  |  gus 26/07/08
      48.   #32, Mark B. 02:52  |  Persian Hero 26/07/08
      49.   To # 41 Yousemite 03:00  |  EDBTZ 26/07/08
      50.   Cat and Mouse for many years 03:02  |  Harold 26/07/08
      51.   Why not invite Iran over for afternoon tea? 03:02  |  Maureen Ann 26/07/08
      52.   Durson gets it right again 03:03  |  Sabra 26/07/08
      53.   RE: I assure Israel, it will be the end if they attack Iran 03:07  |  Who`s he 26/07/08
      54.   X Military fool 03:08  |  sabra 26/07/08
      55.   #31, X-Millitary 03:12  |  Persian Hero 26/07/08
      56.   Clickfool & other sane voices on this thread,don`t 03:12  |  lakshmi 26/07/08
      57.   Better attack sooner than later 03:13  |  Marc 26/07/08
      58.   Support For Attack Is REAL Israel-bashing! 03:27  |  Gray 26/07/08
      59.   Iran will rebuild and we will hit it again 03:43  |  Bob 26/07/08
      60.   58 Gray, I don`t believe questions of anti semitism are the 03:51  |  lakshmi 26/07/08
      61.   Halevy and the alternative 03:55  |  Brod 26/07/08
      62.   Israel`s loose-loose situation 04:01  |  Jason 26/07/08
      63.   Persian Hero #55 04:17  |  X- Military 26/07/08
      64.   PERSIAN HERO #55 04:26  |  X- Military 26/07/08
      65.   Israel`s loose-loose situation 2 04:30  |  Jason 26/07/08
      66.   Israel`s loose-loose situation 3 04:34  |  Jason 26/07/08
      67.   Israel`s loose-loose situation 4 04:36  |  Jason 26/07/08
      68.   The war of peace... 04:36  |  abdoul Allah 26/07/08
      69.   Persian Hero 04:42  |  Jane 26/07/08
      70.   N Korea Iran, US Israel 04:45  |  John Isenhower 26/07/08