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Think tank: Israel could attack Iran's nuclear program alone
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press

The Institute for National Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University said in its annual report, released Tuesday, that Iran will possess nuclear weapons unless military action is taken against it, and Israel would be capable of carrying out such an attack

"Time is working in Iran's favor, and barring military action, Iran's
possession of nuclear weapons is only a matter of time," the institute said in a statement distributed at a news conference where it released its annual assessment of the Middle East's strategic balance.
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Israel considers Iran to be its most serious threat. It dismisses Tehran's claims that its nuclear program is designed solely to produce energy and is worried by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's repeated calls to wipe the Jewish state off the map.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has not ruled out a military strike against Iran's nuclear program, but has said he hoped other ways could be found to keep Tehran from becoming a nuclear power. In 1981, Israel destroyed an unfinished Iraqi nuclear reactor in a surprise air attack.

The INSS think tank stopped short of calling for an Israeli military strike to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Although experts elsewhere have questioned Israel's ability to cripple the Iranian program, which is scattered and built in part in underground bunkers, analysts at INSS said Israel would be capable of carrying it off.

A member of the institute's board, Brigadier General (res.) Giora Eiland said there would not be a military strike without a full "strategic and military" understanding with the U.S.

"Even if, at the end of the day, Israeli jets are going to carry out, or execute, this attack, it might be perceived - and rightly - as an understanding between the United States and Israel," Eiland said.

INSS head Zvi Shtauber, a retired general who also served as Israel's ambassador in London and senior policy adviser to former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, said Israel was "technically" capable of striking alone and would have to do so if it takes action, because no other country would agree to work openly with Israel.

Taking issue with Eiland's assessment that the U.S. must sign off on such an attack, he said, "There are certain things that it's better the U.S. not know about."

Institute analysts, while doubtful that international sanctions would sway Iran from its nuclear ambitions, said the time had not yet come to decide on military action.

"We should do it only when it's clear we've exhausted all other means," Shtauber said.

'Worth exploring Assad overture'
The institute also said in its report that although it was skeptical about the Syrian president's recent peace overtures, it was worth exploring.

The report expressed doubts that Assad could "come up with the goods" during negotiations with Israel, in terms of both his ability and his readiness to go through with talks.

Eiland, told reporters at a Tel Aviv press conference Tuesday that the summer war in Lebanon will have serious and far-reaching repercussions on Israel's power of deterrence.

He said that both Israel's neighbors and the United States have taken note of the failures during the war.

"From the perspective of our friends in the U.S., we failed to come up with the goods in an embarrassing way," he said.
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  1.   Assad Overtures 16:14  |  Martin 02/01/07
  2.   Let`s put Assad tp the test! 16:32  |  Ypnatan 02/01/07
  3.   Did Bush Admin impose limits on Zahal re Litani and weapons? 17:35  |  David Turner 02/01/07
  4.   dont think like chamberline when it comes to Assad 17:41  |  zionist forever 02/01/07
  5.   Get a grip on reality 18:07  |  Marilyn 02/01/07
  6.   the world should be ready to pay a heavy price for indifference 18:08  |  paul 02/01/07
  7.   Nuclear Holocaust 18:40  |  JP 02/01/07
  8.   Good Idea! 18:47  |  jon purizhansky 02/01/07
  9.   Dangerous pipe dreams 18:49  |  Mark Lincoln 02/01/07
  10.   Iran and nuclear weapons 19:01  |  PD Lane 02/01/07
  11.   MARILYN 19:11  |  bo 02/01/07
  12.   Paul no 6 19:16  |  rug salesman 02/01/07
  13.   To Paul # 6 19:23  |  Phinias Whoppy 02/01/07
  14.   Prediction 19:29  |  Henry 02/01/07
  15.   world does not need any more Israeli aggression 19:30  |  Terry 02/01/07
  16.   Think Tanks 19:32  |  Geoff 02/01/07
  17.   Hit Syria and Lebanon at same time 19:39  |  Dale 02/01/07
  18.   Stop barking 19:44  |  nate 02/01/07
  19.   Who cares? 19:51  |  Axel 02/01/07
  20.   To Marilyn 19:51  |  DAVID KAPLAN 02/01/07
  21.   300 Jewish nuclear bombs must be deterred 19:56  |  Englishman 02/01/07
  22.   "Please, sir, may we attack Iran?" 19:57  |  Clickfool 02/01/07
  23.   I Agree with #2 20:00  |  Steve 02/01/07
  24.   Israel would be capable of carrying out such an attack ? 20:09  |  Yanke-love-it 02/01/07
  25.   Israel attacking Iran 20:10  |  Constance Blackwell 02/01/07
  26.   To # 6 Paul : can you please tell me ... 20:15  |  Yanke-love-it 02/01/07
  27.   MARILYN, SOME LIKE IT HOT! 20:29  |  MOSHE 02/01/07
  28.   why dont the zionists just Leave the ME 20:38  |  Sam (UK) 02/01/07
  29.   SOOOOOOOOO.... 20:41  |  Blogowitz 02/01/07
  30.   piece of reality for paul 20:41  |  anti-racist 02/01/07
  31.   War with Iran 20:43  |  Sam 02/01/07
  32.   Thats where you`re putting your money Marilyn? 20:47  |  Timmay 02/01/07
  33.   For Axel # 13 20:51  |  Clickfool 02/01/07
  34.   Dale 20:53  |  Yosemite Sam 02/01/07
  35.   Why the hell should Israel do that? 20:54  |  J.M.Jordan 02/01/07
  36.   Clickfool 20:59  |  Yosemite Sam 02/01/07
  37.   Re: Marilyn 21:08  |  Yolan Sebastion 02/01/07
  38.   #17, Clickfool 21:12  |  Mikle White 02/01/07
  39.   #22 about lies and comparing apples and oranges 21:19  |  Bob 02/01/07
  40.   #10 Henry...finally a good & realistic response! 21:20  |  T. Pierella 02/01/07
  41.   #23 Answers to your questions etc 21:21  |  RA 02/01/07
  42.   CONSTANCE # 21 21:22  |  ROGER 02/01/07
  43.   Israel`s Nuclear Arsenal 21:23  |  Steve 02/01/07
  44.   Englishman 20 21:28  |  BO 02/01/07
  45.   Mark Lincoln 21:30  |  Yosemite Sam 02/01/07
  46.   #21 Moderate Iranian Government????? 21:30  |  Bob 02/01/07
  47.   #25 correction about lies and comparing apples and oranges 21:32  |  Bob 02/01/07
  48.   Extremist maniacs with nukes: Tel Aviv, and soon Tehran. 21:35  |  Ranfo 02/01/07
  49.   sam(UK) 21:35  |  Jeremy Woolf 02/01/07
  50.   sam(UK) 21:35  |  Jeremy Woolf 02/01/07
  51.   to Yankee-love-it 21:42  |  BO 02/01/07
  52.   Now I`ve counted 50 posts 21:49  |  Axel 02/01/07
  53.   Too many enemies--wake-up Israel 21:49  |  JoJo 02/01/07
  54.   "Think Tank" - Duh? 21:51  |  Victor Smolinsky 02/01/07
  55.   Yosemite Sam 22:10  |  Mark Lincoln 02/01/07
  56.   BOB - LUCID 46 & 47 22:12  |  ROGER 02/01/07
  57.   But Victor 22:12  |  Mark Lincoln 02/01/07
  58.   Axel, Your post # 52 re You People 22:18  |  Phinias Whoppy 02/01/07
  59.   For Mikle White # 38, who can`t read 22:25  |  Clickfool 02/01/07
  60.   Lost In translation and a Reply to bo 22:27  |  kooskoos 02/01/07
  61.   Just how will Israel do this? 22:32  |  W 02/01/07
  62.   Mark Lincoln 22:34  |  Axel 02/01/07
  63.   The Piper And The Tune - Mark Lincoln # 57 22:47  |  Victor Smolinsky 02/01/07
  64.   re # 58 Phinias Whoppy 22:47  |  Axel 02/01/07
  65.   Clickfool re Israeli Jets 22:52  |  Phinias Whoppy 02/01/07
  66.   for Clickfool 23:01  |  Mikle White 02/01/07
  67.   Chasing cars. 23:18  |  Bill 02/01/07
  68.   ISRAEL ATTACKING IRAN 23:33  |  DANNY 02/01/07
  69.   Axel 23:36  |  G 02/01/07
  70.   Exhaust other remedies 23:40  |  Sherlock Holmes 02/01/07
  71.   Thanks, think tank 23:46  |  sh 02/01/07
  72.   WAR WITH IRAN 23:47  |  DANNY 02/01/07
  73.   Clickfool doesn`t realize that Iran will be stopped. 00:11  |  albert amato 03/01/07
  74.   At least Axel (#52) keeps cool 00:19  |  christoph 03/01/07
  75.   War... What is it good for? 00:39  |  Dennis Gordon 03/01/07
  76.   Think tank: Israel could attack Iran`s nuclear program alone 00:43  |  n_erber 03/01/07
  77.   Unnecessary Risk 00:53  |  emad matahin 03/01/07
  78.   iran 00:56  |  tom 03/01/07
  79.   Israel has NEUTRON BOMB 00:58  |  Akiva Patysh, Tzioni 03/01/07
  80.   iran 01:00  |  tom 03/01/07
  81.   marilyn 01:01  |  dancho 03/01/07
  82.   Israel can attack Iran alone... 01:08  |  Gullible Cynic 03/01/07
  83.   Axel # 64 Calling Me Lousy Little Jew - 2nd Try 01:14  |  Phinias Whoppy 03/01/07
  84.   War is hell, peace is worst 01:16  |  Lori Cowan 03/01/07
  85.   Dear Constance 01:18  |  Carlos 03/01/07
  86.   To Terry #15 01:19  |  T 03/01/07
  87.   Then, by jove, do it... 01:26  |  Michael N 03/01/07
  88.   to #26 yanke and #30 racist 01:36  |  paul 03/01/07
  89.   Who cares 01:43  |  JJ 03/01/07
  90.   A QUESTION FOR YOU, AXEL... 01:49  |  MOSHE 03/01/07
  91.   Curious censorship - given 15 year old facts 01:52  |  Mark Lincoln 03/01/07
  92.   Axel - Cakewalk 01:55  |  Mark Lincoln 03/01/07
  93.   "To dream, the impossible dream" 01:56  |  Tosefta 03/01/07
  94.   IRAN ATTACK 01:58  |  DemocracyRules 03/01/07
  95.   Iranian Reality 02:00  |  Mark Lincoln 03/01/07
  96.   The tune, the players, and the man who calls the tune - Victor 02:02  |  Mark Lincoln 03/01/07
  97.   To Axel 02:03  |  Marc 03/01/07
  98.   And so Ranfo, what can we conclude? 02:05  |  Mark Lincoln 03/01/07
  99.   People say Israel doesn`t threaten others 02:06  |  Justaguy 03/01/07
  100.   Irony 02:13  |  Gullible Cynic 03/01/07
  101.   Bo 02:22  |  mollio uk 03/01/07
  102.   You know what`s really funny? 02:47  |  H50 03/01/07
  103.   Huh? 02:50  |  Brian 03/01/07
  104.   paul #6 03:00  |  Guess who 03/01/07
  105.   #5Marilyn "Get a grip on reality"-Israel got a grip on reality 03:08  |  Vittorio 03/01/07
  106.   #30 piece of reality 03:11  |  John 03/01/07
  107.   Steve #43 03:12  |  Guess who 03/01/07
  108.   Iran is a real Iraq 03:15  |  Akram Zekaria 03/01/07
  109.   THE HOLOCAUST ISN`T OVER 03:15  |  The End Is Nigh 03/01/07
  110.   IDF doesnt have nuclear weapons 03:22  |  John 03/01/07
  111.   Phinias Whoppy #77 03:24  |  Guess who 03/01/07
  112.   Israel Couldnt Destroy Hezbollox.....So Iran is Easier?? 03:28  |  The End Is Nigh 03/01/07
  113.   To Guess Who # 111 - That Was Good. Cheers. 03:33  |  Phinias Whoppy 03/01/07
  114.   Mark Lincoln #92 There is more to reality though 03:38  |  TonyL 03/01/07
  115.   John #110 03:48  |  JJ 03/01/07
  116.   So many blind hawks, so little thought 03:53  |  spyguy 03/01/07
  117.   #16, Geoff, #56, Victor and my favorite, MarkL 03:59  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/01/07
  118.   the goods! 04:00  |  zal 03/01/07
  119.   #93 Tosefta, you are forgetting something 04:06  |  Bob 03/01/07
  120.   Re 31. Englishman who thinks that 300 Jewish nuclear bombs must 04:07  |  Vittorio 03/01/07
  121.   Re #24. Yankele asks: Israel would be capable of carrying out ... 04:10  |  Vittorio 03/01/07
  122.   Attacking Iran...Israel should Go for it...and 04:11  |  Ali 03/01/07
  123.   Nuke bomb == Suicide bomb 04:11  |  spyguy 03/01/07
  124.   Zionism needs a suicide attack on Iran 04:26  |  Alex 03/01/07
  125.   Be sure to read this by H50 #102 04:54  |  David James Vickery 03/01/07
  126.   "To fight for the right, without question or pause" (Bob #119) 05:10  |  Tosefta 03/01/07
  127.   #116, 123 baseless and spineless spyguy 05:12  |  Bob 03/01/07
  128.   #110, 115 absurd claim 05:17  |  Bob 03/01/07
  129.   #126 Tosefta 05:38  |  Bob 03/01/07
  130.   WHY IRAN WANT NUKES, if at all they want? 05:38  |  MARCO 03/01/07
  131.   #21 COMMON SENSE ENGLISHMAN HAS NONE 05:40  |  paul harris 03/01/07
  132.   #5 MAYLIN THE ABOS WILL BE CLAIMING YOUR HOME SOON 05:42  |  paul harris 03/01/07
  133.   israel,s are chicken 05:45  |  sam 03/01/07
  134.   # 127, BOB so why wait? 06:02  |  MARCO 03/01/07
  135.   So shut up and go do it 06:35  |  Get Real 03/01/07
  136.   126 TOSEFTA - PLESE READ 06:44  |  JON FEIGENBAUM 03/01/07
  137.   IAF-ANOTHER PLAN?? 06:47  |  JON FEIGENBAUM 03/01/07
  138.   unbelievable 07:36  |  paulo2005 03/01/07
  139.   Do we wait and risk all or do we strike first? 07:49  |  Yossi 03/01/07
  140.   What did we expect from this BIASED so-called think-tank? 08:10  |  Timothy 03/01/07
  141.   The so-called think tank should worry about Israel`s nukes 08:38  |  Timothy 03/01/07
  142.   Israel could attack Iran`s nuclear program alone 08:54  |  Ali J 03/01/07
  143.   Nuclear Iran 09:00  |  musa 03/01/07
  144.   For Moshe # 90 - I wouldn`t go there, matey 09:16  |  Clickfool 03/01/07
  145.   Iran`s nukes 09:22  |  Bill 03/01/07
  146.   For Mark Lincoln, on American Jews # 96 09:25  |  Clickfool 03/01/07
  147.   For Marc, writing from the safety of West Palm Beach # 97 09:28  |  Clickfool 03/01/07
  148.   Preventing Iranian nuclear bomb is easy 09:52  |  Brigitte Meier 03/01/07
  149.   re # 69 G from Toronto 09:55  |  Axel 03/01/07
  150.   To Bill 145 10:24  |  Yossi 03/01/07
  151.   # 146 eeeeeyup...and THEY know... 10:33  |  eric 03/01/07
  152.   # 113 hey phinny... 11:02  |  eric 03/01/07
  153.   Mark Lincoln # 96 FYI 12:42  |  Victor Smolinsky 03/01/07
  154.   who do you think you are ? 14:40  |  Peter Everet 03/01/07
  155.   60 years accumulated suffering 14:54  |  Alexander 03/01/07
  156.   Shoot first, talk later: Haaretz teenibopper Bushes 16:21  |  David Turner 03/01/07
  157.   TRUST 17:00  |  Golda 03/01/07
  158.   #21 Jewish Nuclear Bombs 17:27  |  Yaela Katz 03/01/07
  159.   #30: Anti-Racist - Iranian Arabs 17:35  |  Yaela Katz 03/01/07
  160.   #48: Nuclear Tel Aviv 17:42  |  Yaela Katz 03/01/07
  161.   Yo Eric # 152 18:25  |  Phinias Whoppy 03/01/07
  162.   Iran 18:26  |  Michael 03/01/07
  163.   Iran 18:34  |  Michael 03/01/07
  164.   The think tank doesn?t say HOW Israel should hit Iran. Here`s how 18:59  |  Ethan 03/01/07
  165.   The think tank doesn?t say HOW Israel should hit Iran. Here`s how 19:01  |  Ethan 03/01/07
  166.   Clickfool #144 19:29  |  Phinias Whoppy 03/01/07
  167.   Israel will not survive 19:35  |  Arik 03/01/07
  168.   Blasting Iran`s nukes 21:46  |  Bleepless 03/01/07
  169.   nukes 00:03  |  david 04/01/07
  170.   Peter Evveret # 154, here is who.. 05:40  |  Daniel 04/01/07
  171.   iran 17:28  |  nonsumdignus 05/01/07
  172.   Irans nukes 00:03  |  Zalman 07/01/07
  173.   attacking Iran`s nukes 00:13  |  Zalman 07/01/07
  174.   Think tank: Israel could attack Iran`s nuclear program alone 19:24  |  L.A. Rossique 16/10/07
  175.   to terry 22:17  |  mike 16/10/07
  176.   110 23:16  |  jean la salle 16/10/07
  177.   TO N0 25. CONSTANCE. 19:07  |  DANNY. 29/11/07
  178.   US Approval not needed for Israeli strike 01:16  |  Reuben Goldenstein 30/11/07
  179.   time to strike the cobra is standing 10:46  |  the messenger of "H" 05/04/08
  180.   How demented can one get? 06:26  |  Stanley 12/04/08
  181.   Not Swiftian, after all 06:30  |  Stanley 12/04/08
  182.   Ahmadinejad`s repeated calls ??? 07:07  |  Concerned Jew 29/01/09
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