Halevi: Iran nuke advances could force us to strike
Saudi-Iran deal not strategic move • Calls for more haredim to enlist
Iran’s continued nuclear advances could leave Israel with no choice but a preemptive attack, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi said Tuesday.
“Iran has progressed in recent years with enriching uranium more than ever before,” he said. “We are looking closely at the various arenas that are part of the path to nuclear capabilities. There are negative potential trends on the horizon that could lead to [us] acting. We have the capabilities.”
Iran is involved in “everything around us and with everyone who is against us,” including strategy, intelligence and funding, Halevi said. “We have the capability to strike Iran. We are not aloof to what Iran is trying to do around us. Iran also cannot be aloof to what we can do against it.”
Honing in on the many threats Israel faces, Halevi said if the IDF finds itself in a multi-front war, it would strike its enemies on all fronts much harder. This would be necessary to cope with the higher complexity of fighting on multiple fronts, he said.
Regarding normalization of ties, Halevi said he did not view the recent deal between
Iran and Saudi Arabia as a strategic change that would set back Israeli goals.
Some “states [Saudi Arabia] have come closer to Iran,” he said. “I don’t think these states trust Iran or want true peace [with it]. This [the new Saudi deal] comes from wanting to reduce the temperature a bit within the region to avoid a bigger confrontation.”
Addressing issues of the IDF and Israeli society internally, Halevi called on the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community and its leaders to make a greater effort to send more recruits to the army.
Haredim who have joined the army return to their communities “no less haredi,” and they are better able to contribute to their communities and the country, he said.
Transitioning to other army and society issues, Halevi said IDF reservists in the recent period have shown up in very high numbers, dispelling
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