You forgot to mention that the 2014 war started a few days *after* the final game of the world cup. It is hopefully a coincidence that we choose to notice and assign a meaning to!

In addition to telling Israeli's if he is pursuing war with Iran, he should also tell Israeli's the exact date, where he will strike first and the number of troops, types of planes and missiles he will use. And God forbid Israel steps up it's demands from Iran. I would surmise Bernea would rather wait until Israel absorbs the first strike and then he could counsel caution because America's far left, who despise Israel, the French, Germans and British may not like it. Remember the cold war stayed cold because both the Russians and America knew the consequences of such a war. Letting Iran know where Israel stands may be the most prudent thing to do.

Previously the left has been accusing Netanyahu of indecisiveness re going to battle. Others on the left called him a coward for not attacking Irans Nuclear facilities. Yet, the same people who make all these claims, the same people who were so wrong re the agreement and its sunset clause (etc), the same people who got it so wrong on Gaza and have brought constant war, etc, etc, now have a need to know if Netanyahu is planning war. The game is simply to blame Netanyahu - does not matter what he does, does not do ,etc.

what is the logic here, should he say i am going to war, Iran is going to war not Israel by threatening Israel existence and and moving gun to terrorists orgnization on it's border

SEA QUIEN SEA, APARENTA SER RETRASADO MENTAL.
IRAN ESTA DECIDIDA A BORRAR A ISRAEL DEL MAPA. LO DEMUESTRA DIA A DIA CON SUS AGRESIVAS ACCIONES Y DECLARACIONES .CON ESTOS ACTOS QUIEREN PONER A PRUEBA A ISRAEL. SI ISRAEL NO RESPONDE ES UNA PRUEBA DE DEBILIDAD, QUE IMPULSARÍA A IRAN A UNA GUERRA TOTAL. ES PREFERIBLE TENERLOS A RAYA QUE DARLES LA SENSACIÓN DE DEBILIDAD. LA POSICIÓN DE ISRAEL ES DISUASIVA Y NO PROVOCATIVA.

Diplomatic, covert and military means are not separate tracks. They combine and reinforce in synergia when complementing effective psychological warfare and combine with the local discontent of the Iranian population. Crucially, they combine synergically with the actions of other countries, like the USA. Israel is building a consensus against the Iranian regime. It takes years. Every intervention by PM Netanyahu has contributed not ad hoc, but to the buildup. Last monday's was a massive combination of covert and psychological, political and more, intending to cause JCPOA to shipwreck, sanctions to be imposed.

Don't see just the aspects in two or three dimensions. Time, overall consensus and precise timing are a patient work. It yields results. In this case, it attacks and constraints Iran's regime politically, and emboldens everybody to see confronting it is not only possible, but pays off very well. Europe is key in learning it.

jail time. The problem can be resolved if the public sees sexy shaked in a revealing dress talking tough. Ouch

You clearly lay out - as best as one is able - the realities & choices one has before sliding into full scale war...

As to the right-wing hardliners that will be foaming at the mouth with criticism of Barnea... I'll be waiting with great anticipation to see them all stand & volunteer to serve in the front lines...

Only show them half your Tuchus.....

PM Netanyahu is holding his cards close to his chest ,he is not revealing his plans nor his intentions.

You know, you gotta stop them at the beginning. Like they should have stopped Hitler at Munich, they should never let him get away with that, they was just asking for trouble.

you want to pursue policies based on instant and never ending polls among populations, you'll end up with no government, no country and...no population.
The wise adage in Yiddish, "Oylem is a Goylem" The world is a Golem) holds true forever.
Barnea is a prime example of such "Golem".

This conclusion the author could draw from his article. The Israeli government views the consolidation of Iranians in Syria as a very serious, perhaps even existential threat, and Lieberman has said that it is ready to pay any price to avert it. "Any price", means also a war. Now it depends on Iranians reaction to Israel's preventive measures if it will deteriorate into a all-out military conflict.

Iran has ploughed millions into Hamas and Hezballah - it is funding terror against Israel, Israel/s actions in destroying munitions and bases in Syria is a response. If Iran does not want a conflict it should stop. Israel is acting in self defence

then let him go do the fighting. Not ready to see any Israelis dying in a unnecessary conflict started by these warmongers in the government.

Nahum Barnea is sometimes smart, but often misguided.

He should not know, we should not know, only the military and the country's leaders.

Why should anyone trumpet Israel's intentions for the enemies to learn our strategy?

both men basically loathe themselves.past experience teaches us clearly, no ambiguity-take threats seriously and preempt. hitler should have been assasinated early on would have likely meant more jews survive.

bibi if anything is too weak and is slow to pull the trigger. in fact it is Lieberman and Bennett who call the shots.bibi is a bystander. he rejoices in the fact that he doesn't have to decide himself. he is not a military man, not at all.

barnea says don't provoke Iran and maybe they won't attack us. it is hard to understand this man. the nation of Israel must be protected. if barnea doesn't agree and it is against his morals, he should pack up and move to ramallah or some other place. he is pathetic.

this is a blind man talking.

barnea is a fool.

of course Israel must not wait. wipe out key concentrations in Syria and Tehran if necessary; and then set street protests in Iran on fire and hit key installations.

you don't like it? Then move in with Obama in Washington.


6 million died so this journalist utters his garbage???
and you don't announce war plans-you shmuck.

regardless of your soviet background, Russia does what is good for itself. just dig in as you are doing and don't try to please Putin. it will only increase his ferocity. your statements about wiping out the s300 if it is used or hitting teheran in response are spot on. keep firm and don't kiss putin's rear end. you won't get assurances.

the Iran deal stinks. inspections are not random and not intrusive lapid has no idea of what he is talking about except that he would avoid war at all costs. just as he was not a combat officer, he fails to understand that Israel has to fight to the finish to survive. not wait and hope. forget about the world. they d o nothing for Israel.

lapid caters to the frightened coffee crowd in tel aviv. he is unfit to lead israel.

the Iranian hydra's head ASAP.

Rather, it should ask if Bibi is responding to Iran's Declaration of War?

Maarach white elephant still spill venom in 1950 melancholic style???

As horrific as Labor (and the Jewish left) were during the Oslo Era, they are even worse today. Who ever thought the left would be so despicable as to call saving Israel from Iran's nukes "warmongering"? The left has never been more dangerous and psychotic than it is today. Golda Meir, and other early Labor leaders, would spin in their graves if they could see the absolute disgrace of today's Labor Party.

It was famously said of Shimon Peres that he didn't care if Israel was reduced to smouldering ashes, as long as he stood on top of the ashes. The same can accurately be said of the loathsome Labor Party.

Dear Mr. Barnea,

If I were the Iranians, I would have deep tunnels already dug under major
cities in Israel just waiting for the Uranium weapons that Iran will be in a position to produce within three months of the abrogation of the Iran Agreement. Bibi has neither been honest with himself or Israel about the real threats. There are none so blind as those who do not see. 10 years ago, Hezbollah had tunnels in Lebanon that were 25 km long. That happens to be a fact.