Israel can't attack Iran. It doesn't have the strategic depth to destroy the Iranian military with out using nukes and it could damage the world economy. The only country that can wipe out Iran's nuclear capability and keep a "portion" of the oil flowing is the US. If Israel strikes Iran it will set the Israel economy back 10 years and cost it tens of billions of dollars. Investment in Israel will freeze and tourism will almost dry up in the short term. I am not saying Israel couldn't complete it's short term military goals, however the diplomatic and economic fall out will be enormous.

health, that Israel would make a substantial threat towards Iranian plans of genocide AND make the so-called World believe, that we don't give a flying f..k if the "oil supply" gets "disrupted" ??! Just once, just so I can feel like a full, independent human being and not a reciever of "nadavot" from my Gentile masters???

that Iran already has nuclear weapons purchased off the Black Market and from North Korea. The big question is, would the Iranians be so foolish as to initiate a first strike on Israel, or anyone else for that matter? They may be mad in some ways, but very shrewd and practical in others.

There is Two Principal things regarding Iran and Israel in this case. The Resolve of Iran and, The Existential threath to Israel, and Her survival. Iran is Religiously intent to come for Israel and will only fail to do so if without Military Capability to do so, nothing else in the World, could prevent Iran on this path. The Economical consequenses or whatever the result of and Israeli Preemtive strike, can not be an argument against it, it is Israels survival which is in Question. Israel should as if She regards Iran as an Existential Threath according to the above, put an Dipöomatic ultimatum to the US, " Either you join us in an preemtive Military first strike agains Iran and her Dogs, which will lead to the complete success of depriving them of all their Offensive capabilities or, we will do it on our own using unnessesarry exessive Military Force in comparison to if you join us " !!!. Arn.Sweden.

A well balanced and well put together article that completely makes sense. Couldn't agree more. Well done ynetnews.

and the world is fully aware of what Iran is doing, but the world is not doing much about it. As for the USA, we are not their puppet on a string, we are responsible for ourselves first. We currently do NOT feel like we have their full support, so, if we feel we need to do something to protect ourselves, we need to do just that, and rather NOt tell the USA, who might well turn against us. Plus their record is actually not as good as ours.

But I strongly support a strike against iranian facilities in order to buy precious time till January 2013 which should see an new REAL US president, willing to counter a real existential threat !

Please, Mr. Friedmann get it out of your mind. There will be no U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear installations. Americans naively believe Iran can be deterred from attacking U.S. soil. Indeed it will be a difficult undertaking, but short of Israel acting, Iran will be a nuclear power with nuclear -armed missiles likely aimed at Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem. Protecting the Strait of Hormuz will be the west's problem. It will be America's job. The U.S. has plenty of fire-power in the region. Enough with the handwringing and all the "what ifs" Mr. Friedman.

Americans led by our President Obama, our Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street 99% will significantly defeat our loong-time dy$functional 1% corrupt "leaders", and force our collective behaviours to again focus and act in American Interests, not the of a handful of some distant, self-righteous, arrogant individuals. America needs to focus and behave on her principles & interests which frequently differ from others such as the continual Bomb, Bomb, Bomb" mentality of others with much different principles & behaviours ...

A safe, strong, secure Israel is in America's best interests. We need to focus on getting rid of YOUR president (Obama) if we are going to do whats best for the United States Of America and Israel.

Daniel Friedman is a grasshoper repport. Does the West care when Israeli cities are burning with rockets from Iranian sponsored terror groups of Gaza, Lebanon and Egypt? Let Bibi nuke the ayatollahs now!

Friedman seems scared about Israel defending itself against Iran. The fact is Iran has been attacking Israel unrelentingly through its proxies in the South and the North. And Iran has announced repeatedly its evil intention of wiping Israel off the map. Currently, the fanatical Ayatollahs are feverishly on their nukes to accomplish their evil intention. Expecting the AntiSemites in the West to defend Israel against this existential threat is like expecting the AntiSemites to defend the Jews in WWII. It is not logical. It is pure naivete'. Israel alone has the right to defend itself against any country that is hellbent on its destruction. And Israel can and will prevail because the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is with Israel. No dark forces can prevail against Israel.

israel has not exessive capacity with respect to Iran, which is huge country is a major regional power. If Israel use exessive force, Iran will have a free hand to answer with exessive force, and give a good thrashing in israel. the beating was to be given long ago. This will close the mouth of people arrogant and ignorant of reality on the ground like you. if even the U.S. does not want a war with Iran, so be sure that Israel is not strong enough for iran

you are the naive, not the United States. do you really think that an iraeli's strike on Iran will have a significant impact on the development of nuclear power? say that to the military that are strongly skeptical about your claims

Typical Israeli who dwells on imaginary nightmare scenarios following an Israeli attack on Iran, but completely ignores the real-life consequences for Israel if they don't prevent Iran from getting the bomb.

When Israel has used "excessive force" on Iran, there is not left enough from Iran to answer.

No one knows for certain what the impact of an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities would be. Economic sanctions are futile. If Israel does not try to stop Iran, who will? If Israel does not try to stop Iran, is there any doubt Iran will be a nuclear-armed state with the "potential" to make good on her threats to annihilate Israel's Jews? Is there any question, a nuclear Iran will destablize the entire region and ultimately the world? What do you propose #17?

he sat by while olmert messed up the jhezbollah war. Who thehell cares what he thinks. As for hamas, bibi is worried about cairo and so uses them to sort the problems out. One problem is that cairo is unreliable. The reason why egypt made peace with irael was because it feared and respecterd it. that is no longer the case. Yoiu have barak telling hamas that israel is not interested in going into gaza. So hamas tells jihad, keep firing, barak will not enter out land. Am I stupid or what. This is Omert 2.0 or Livni 2.00-rank cowardice and incompetence.Don't tell the other side what you are going to do. it is also obvious that israel needs gen. Galant. Ganz is a nice guy but it takes him too long to take action.

What a laugh you are. Iran couldn't even beat Iraq.

That we are a Western Power. Sure as heck are not another Middle East dictatorship. Can we take out Iran's threat - maybe. Can we weaken the Iranian theocracy enough for the Iranians to take back control - most likely.

that is why they let iran arm at all but iranians will fool everyone and use nukes to control oil in region--this is the real weapon of mass destruction- no retaliation possible.

The article is correct in that the author lays out the possibilities concerning Iranian retaliation for a strike by Israel. The author is wrong, in his thesis that Israel needs to leave the decision in the hands of Western powers. At some point, a decision will have to be made. Israel is the one and only country whose very existence has been threatened by Iran. If at some point, the West does not take action, then Israel must do so, and the consequences be damned. Israel needs to make it clear to the West that if Iran is not stopped, Israel will act unilaterally to do so regardless of any potential harm to western interests.

What about the other half of the Jewish community in the rest of the world who will be blamed and persecuted for this reckless act. Do you not care about us?

Israel saves the world - world is outraged.

of other powers, which are not on Irans target list for nuclear annihilation, then NOTHING will happen at all and the Iranian lunatics will simply go nuclear...

Its all BS, Eventually israel will have no choice but to decide when to strike these facilities in iran. The choices are clear, a decision of when and how are not. There is no if, but only when , and the clock is ticking, who in israel wants amadinajd and the mad ayatollahs with a detonatable nuclear war head, of course will be pointed at the holy land the minute its completed, what do you think there aims are in Iran, to point it at a desert or the sky. Every one in the world must get a grip, because no-one in this world can expect that we will sit and watch them build it, we wont , and therefore the war is inevitable.

to demonstrate Israeli patience and understanding. Then Israel will enjoy the world's affection and approval. For sure.