A leaked recorded interview aired by Israeli Channel 2 on Friday revealed former Israeli Defense Minister and Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, stating that Israel was willing to launch a military operation on the nuclear plants in Iran but had to forgo it due to cowardice of politicians, the views of military men and unexpected activities.
Barak claimed that he had agreed with Netanyahu for an attack in 2010 but the then military chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi said the Jewish state lacked the capability.
It can be recalled that Netanyahu had stated a couple of years ago that Israel won’t launch an attack on Iran without the participation of the U.S.
The recording revelations confirm Israel’s determination to carry out a military operation to end the controversial Iranian nuclear program. Barak explained that the 2010 plan was stifled by the lack of operational capability highlighted by Ashkenazi while in 2011 two cabinet ministers, Yuval Steinitz and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, were hesitant. The third plan was in 2012 and was in the pipeline when a joint military exercise with the U.S. and a planned visit by then-U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta led to a U-turn.
Iran has always vowed that attacking its nuclear facilities equals a declaration of war.
The TV channel claimed that Barak tried to stop the airing of the interview but the military censor’s office permitted it.
The timing of the interview airing, which coincided with the release of a new biography of Barak, has raised questions whether the former Prime Minister is on the verge of returning to the political scene at 73.
