Israel's deputy prime minister and strategic affairs minister recently gave a talk, and the main points are summarized here by Baruch Widen. It makes for fascinating reading and undoubtedly reflects some of the thinking at Israel's highest echelon, not only Yaalon's. It also suggests why Israel's current realistic leadership deserves to remain in place, and why it's worth it for Netanyahu to veer somewhat toward the center if that's necessary to ensure it. One doesn't want Netanyahu, Yaalon, and Yuval Steinitz (and Ehud Barak is at least in the realistic camp on Iran) to be replaced with dilettantes and lightweights like Yair Lapid and the assorted Kadima and Labor dimwits.
Culled from Yaalon's talk:
The antidote for the ills of Westernism, Yaalon said, is a vigorous defense of, and renewed commitment to, the ideals of Zionism, our spiritual, moral, and ethical heritage, and the renewal of faith in the justness of our state and our cause in the world, instead of placing our hopes in documents, international organizations, or media accounts.
Or:
...Yaalon stated that there is a very credible military option--even with Israel acting alone--with high probability of success in permanently halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Yet he cautioned, “it can be difficult to have a credible military option as a real deterrent when many voices within Israel itself are publicly saying that it is not.”
The whole thing's very worth a read.
