For Israel, U.S. report on Iran adds a burden

Military action not ruled out
In 1981 Israeli warplanes penetrated deep into Iraq to destroy an unfinished nuclear reactor near Baghdad to prevent its use in a weapons program.

Israel has since taken delivery of about 80 aircraft fitted with long-range fuel tanks that would allow them to reach Iran, and it has acquired three German-built submarines reportedly capable of firing nuclear-armed missiles, with two more under construction.

Israel says it prefers a diplomatic resolution to the Iran nuclear issue, but has not ruled out taking military action itself if necessary. Israel lives with the memory of the Nazi Holocaust and has vowed never again to rely on anyone but itself to safeguard its people.

Iran funds Islamic groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, both openly dedicated to Israel’s destruction, and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Israel should be “wiped off the map.”

The mood in the Israeli military command after this week’s U.S. assessment is one of isolation and disappointment, but nobody is talking about any imminent Israeli strike against Iran, defense officials said Wednesday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the need not to appear at odds with U.S. policy.

Threat actually reduced?
Yossi Melman, veteran defense writer for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, said that if the U.S. view of Iran’s nuclear status is correct, it actually reduces the threat to Israel and the likelihood of independent military action.

“If Iran is not heading for a nuclear weapon then you don’t need a military option,” he said, adding that for Israeli officials a strike was never a very likely choice.

“Israel’s ability to carry out a military operation in Iran is limited,” he said. “It’s possible but limited.”

Such a mission would be far more complex that the 1981 Iraq raid, experts say.

It would require heavy precision-guided bombs that can slice into underground bunkers, manned aircraft to bombard multiple targets and possibly commandos on the ground to make sure weapons materials are destroyed.

Melman said Israel’s next step could be to redouble its own intelligence efforts in an attempt to prove its case, but that might antagonize the U.S. agencies.

“If Israel didn’t have a smoking gun before, why should it find one now?” he said. “If they had the evidence they would have given it to the Americans and influenced their report.”

More from msnbc.com Power struggle threatens Pakistan’s leader  Swine flu booster shots? Good luck with that From Levi to Letterman: Palin's rough year Obama gets mixed reviews on China's blogs Ice addict heads for poles, Everest | Trek posts On Twitter: Breaking news updates | Weird and wild

MORE FROM MIDEAST & N. AFRICA

Mideast & N. Africa Section Front

Carter defends handling of Iran hostage crisis U.N.: Iran nuclear facility to start in 2011 Saudi cleric accuses Iran of ties to Yemeni rebels Bingo’s comeback erases divisions in Baghdad Mideast & N. Africa Section Front   Add Mideast & N. Africa headlines to your news reader: