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Last update - 09:32 15/05/2009
Israel: U.S. will know before any Iran strike
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel News, Nuclear, Iran 

Israel has acceded to American demands by pledging to coordinate its moves on Iran with Washington and not surprise the United States with military action.

During a trip to Jerusalem earlier this week, CIA chief Leon Panetta informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that U.S. President Barack Obama demanded that Israel not launch a surprise attack on Iran. The message expressed concern that Israel would cause an escalation in the region and undermine Obama's efforts to improve relations with Tehran.

However, the content was nothing new: The Bush administration also sent tough messages to Jerusalem a year ago, including a demand that it not strike Iran. Israeli officials believe that U.S. foreign policy professionals are vehemently opposed to an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, so this position was transmitted from the previous administration to the present one.
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The U.S. expects Israel to coordinate its military actions with Washington, a condition to which Jerusalem has agreed due to its dependence on U.S. aid. Senior officials in the Bush administration testified to Congress that Israel had consulted them before deciding on its 2007 air strike on an alleged Syrian nuclear reactor. They said Israel had explained that it considered the Syrian project an existential threat and therefore had to act.

In his first trip to Israel as CIA chief, about three weeks ago, Panetta met with Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Mossad chief Meir Dagan. Panetta was White House chief of staff under Bill Clinton in 1994-97. In this capacity, he and his president weathered a stormy phase of the peace process, the assassination of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres' brief term of office and the advent of the first Netanyahu government. During those years, Clinton visited Israel three times, so Panetta got to know the Israeli leadership.

In the Senate confirmation hearing for his appointment as CIA chief, Panetta said he has no doubt Iran is working toward nuclear weapons capability. Since taking office, Panetta has also visited India and Pakistan, due to the serious domestic crisis in Islamabad and the growing threat to its regime.

The Iranian threat will play a central role in Netanyahu's talks with Obama, Congress and senior U.S. officials during his visit to Washington next week. After the premier returns, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman will head to Washington for his first visit. Lieberman will head the strategic dialogue between the U.S. and Israel, which will focus on Iran.

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      1.   LOL 02:58  |  Jennifer 15/05/09
      2.   No need for Surprises, Tell America To Get Out Of The Way 03:14  |  UsedToPostHere 15/05/09
      3.   Israels promise not to surprise US 03:16  |  Dr Reality Check 15/05/09
      4.   Israel Better Stay in Line 03:40  |  Marc Leb 15/05/09
      5.   To Number 3 Dr Reality Check????? 04:19  |  Scott Havsy 15/05/09
      6.   Attacking Iran 04:21  |  Scott Havsy 15/05/09
      7.   Re Used to post here #2 `No need...` 04:30  |  Colin Wright 15/05/09
      8.   Dr Reality Check # 3 _ You Are Absolutely Correct 04:40  |  Eli 15/05/09
      9.   YES, DADDY, I PROMISE ! 04:55  |  Fortuna Benmayor 15/05/09
      10.   The real question is not `surprise ` but `green light`. 05:02  |  Mark B. 15/05/09
      11.   LOOKS LIKE ADULTS ARE BACK 05:10  |  Ed 15/05/09
      12.   to Jennifer 05:16  |  Cohen 15/05/09
      13.   Fantacy Check #3 05:44  |  Jasper 15/05/09
      14.   Israel will not to surprise U.S. with strike on Iran unless 05:45  |  Rachel 15/05/09
      15.   Dr Reality Check 06:14  |  Michelle 15/05/09
      16.   Jennifer # 1, What a scenario !! 06:21  |  Westwell 15/05/09
      17.   Rephrasing #2`s view 06:35  |  Student 15/05/09
      18.   Something of a relief... 06:52  |  Esther 15/05/09
      19.   Israel has won military campaigns, but not a single war 09:32  |  Optipessimist 15/05/09
      20.   hit iran hard 09:33  |  harzion 15/05/09
      21.   To Dr. Reality Check 10:16  |  Truth seeker 15/05/09
      22.   Are Israel`s leaders rational? 11:43  |  Michael 15/05/09
      23.   Shia bomb is a sunni problem. the sunni solution is to 12:02  |  Joseph.E 15/05/09
      24.   Arabs always claim victory in war if there is anyone left standin 12:43  |  Hahaha TRUE 15/05/09
      25.   #16 13:01  |  Phillip 15/05/09
      26.   I like #1 Jennifer`s response the best 13:02  |  Michael A. Shoemaker 15/05/09
      27.   Optipessimist # 19 Classical "Victories" Are Near Impossible Toda 13:08  |  Jeff Northridge 15/05/09
      28.   And Israel won`t be allowed to Strike. 13:18  |  Razi 15/05/09
      29.   Jennifer #1 13:28  |  Dan 15/05/09
      30.   Dr. Realty Check in New Jersey 13:32  |  Sorry tax payer 15/05/09
      31.   Ups and downs with US 13:33  |  msh 15/05/09
      32.   Marc Leb 13:34  |  Mark 15/05/09
      33.   4.mark trouble for 60 years in ME 14:19  |  dave 15/05/09
      34.   Who is Obama? 14:21  |  Zalman 15/05/09
      35.   Re: Jennifer 14:30  |  Greg 15/05/09
      36.   And who else will know? 14:31  |  Tzfonit 15/05/09
      37.   Joker @ 2 14:43  |  Greg 15/05/09
      38.   Like US knew before Syria strike 14:52  |  Realist 15/05/09
      39.   Pre warning. 15:00  |  Arie 15/05/09
      40.   colin wright 15:03  |  danish 15/05/09
      41.   greg 15:37  |  dave 15/05/09
      42.   optipessimist 15:40  |  ehud 15/05/09
      43.   DIS-information is King 15:41  |  Phil 15/05/09
      44.   philip 15:49  |  oz 15/05/09
      45.   Of course the US will know before any strike 16:00  |  Chris Linthwaite 15/05/09
      46.   obama 16:08  |  ehud 15/05/09
      47.   #15 to Dr R.check defeats were turned into victories nothing new 16:18  |  lim 15/05/09
      48.   Why is the US supporting($$$) Israel 18:16  |  Witness 15/05/09
      49.   LOL OOOPSS Didn`t you get that MEMO? 18:20  |  Kimber 15/05/09
      50.   israel, a spoiled brat 19:27  |  college grad 15/05/09
      51.   yeh we will know 19:50  |  bodien 15/05/09
      52.   college grad 21:21  |  oz 15/05/09
      53.   True Anti-Semetism 21:31  |  Adam 15/05/09
      54.   There are approx. 5 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan. 23:14  |  Maureen Ann 15/05/09
      55.   A Dumb US Move. Now if Israel attacks, US approval is implied. 01:39  |  nacl 16/05/09
      56.   Telling us to involve us, probably... 05:13  |  Silvienne 16/05/09
      57.   OBAMA KNOWS WHAT ISRAEL IS ABOUT 05:56  |  indrajaya 16/05/09
      58.   Keep Iranian strike a secret 06:48  |  Mac McDaniel 16/05/09
      59.   # 55 nacl 10:21  |  Axel 16/05/09
      60.   # 53 adam 10:25  |  Axel 16/05/09
      61.   Iran 10:33  |  Lisa Javner 16/05/09
      62.   #59, Axel 10:56  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 16/05/09
      63.   axel "intercept an israeli attack" 11:10  |  harzion 16/05/09
      64.   axel "jews were a minority in palestine" 11:12  |  harzion 16/05/09
      65.   Obama is going to be singing Bomb Bomb bomb bombom Iran,as McCain 13:29  |  Susanna/Shoshana 16/05/09
      66.   #55 Axel i put my money on IAF to beat USAF if betting 14:58  |  leba 16/05/09
      67.   the iaf excels 15:47  |  harzion 16/05/09
      68.   re: Colin Wright 16:05  |  UsedToPostHere 16/05/09
      69.   re: Greg 16:10  |  UsedToPostHere 16/05/09
      70.   Telling the US before...are you kidding? 17:51  |  Edithann 16/05/09
      71.   harzion, you do sound like a man in doubt 18:23  |  Mark B. 16/05/09
      72.   sovereign 18:59  |  albert paul ortiz 16/05/09
      73.   Yes Arabs always claim victory. Hahaha.#24 With many examples. 19:08  |  Whiskey/Bravo 16/05/09
      74.   to know 22:05  |  badran 16/05/09
      75.   Mark B.#71 ....harzion doubts.. 22:52  |  Whiskey/Bravo 16/05/09
      76.   # 69 UsedToTalkBig 23:02  |  Axel 16/05/09
      77.   # 66 leba 23:05  |  Axel 16/05/09
      78.   #2, UsedToPostHere... 23:05  |  Silvienne 16/05/09
      79.   Axel #60, well said 23:06  |  Palestinian Prince 16/05/09
      80.   Hey Michael Shoemaker.... 03:09  |  Silvienne 17/05/09
      81.   president obama needs 03:17  |  bri 17/05/09
      82.   Sounds Like Joint Strike 06:08  |  Baruch Gold 17/05/09
      83.   hisbullah 07:14  |  antoine 17/05/09
      84.   bvg 09:23  |  love my life 17/05/09
      85.   Dave in Instanbul 13:14  |  Greg 17/05/09
      86.   Re: true antisemitism 13:15  |  Gregory 17/05/09
      87.   re: UsedToPostHere 13:15  |  Gregory 17/05/09
      88.   To Mark B.. harzion doubts??? 13:42  |  Whiskey/Bravo 17/05/09
      89.   Baruch Gold 16:29  |  Persian Kitty 17/05/09
      90.   re: Gregory 18:03  |  UsedToPostHere 17/05/09
      91.   Do Not make the statement:US will know before"Most likely it will 07:05  |  glenna 18/05/09
      92.   # 89 Persian Kitty 10:26  |  The Teacher/Instruct 18/05/09
      93.   re: glenna 13:40  |  UsedToPostHere 18/05/09
      94.   re: Axel 13:41  |  UsedToPostHere 18/05/09
      95.   Bibi wil do waht is (#6) 08:08  |  Dr. Reality Check 22/05/09
      96.   Behind the #8 ball 08:13  |  Dr. Reality Check 22/05/09
      97.   #13; what was that about a UN racism conf? 08:16  |  Dr. Reality Check 22/05/09
      98.   Hi, Micelle 08:18  |  Dr. Reality Check 22/05/09
      99.   For Sorry Tax Payer 08:21  |  Dr. Reality Check 22/05/09
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