There are perhaps two serious scenarios NATO and the free world should be concerned about regarding Israel’s right to defend itself by means of a pre-emptive air strike or a counter-attack should Iran attack first.
Today, Israel is not protected by the occupied Sinai Desert. Captured in the Six-Day War in 1967, the Sinai had been a buffer zone between Israel and Egypt. The Sinai was given back to Egypt when both countries signed the peace treaty in 1979.
For several years, a belligerent Iran has been threatening to wipe Israel off the map. Iran is building ICBM missiles and is nearly finished building a nuclear bomb. The American president seems to be unaware of the threat against Israel.
The first scenario is Israel may pre-empt Iran and try to take out their nuclear capability. The second scenario is what Israel may do if Iran launches first. I believe that if Iran launches a surprise attack, Israel will counter attack. Something most Arab and Muslim countries seem to be blissfully unaware of: if Iran launches first, Israel will counter attack — not just against Iran, but all other Arab and Muslim capital cities and any other nation that has assisted Iran in developing nuclear weapons. I believe North Korea and Pakistan are on that list: The Koreans for supplying missiles and the Pakistanis for supplying nuclear technology. I would not be surprised to discover Israeli submarines off the Korean coast and in the Gulf of Oman with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles.
Recently, the new Egyptian army chief of staff, a Muslim fanatic, has moved Egyptian armoured units up close to the Israeli frontier which borders the Sinai Desert. With no buffer zone, Israel is in a precarious situation. If Israel must launch against Iran, it is quite likely Israel must also launch against Egypt.
The third problem Israel must deal with: Recently, the Syrians have said they will supply chemical weapons to the Hamas and Hezbollah forces in Gaza and Lebanon. Suddenly something Israel had only thought about as a “worst possible scenario”, with an indifferent President Obama, Israel may have to launch against all possible targets.
The Israeli and world Jewish peoples have said since the Second World War: “There will never be another holocaust.” The Christian and Jewish way of life began in the Middle East; unfortunately for all of us, it might end there. The nuclear clock is ticking.
Ernie Slump
Penticton