Mofaz decries 'total anarchy' in discourse on Iran

Opposition leader sends letter to PM demanding information on preparedness of home front, public evacuation strategies.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Mofaz and Netanyahu at cabinet meeting 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Mofaz and Netanyahu at cabinet meeting 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Opposition leader Shaul Mofaz (Kadima) demanded Sunday a meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to discuss Iran in light of his many public statements on the issue.
In a letter sent on Sunday evening, Mofaz wrote that there has been “total anarchy in the public discourse on the most intimate defense topic, which has become common practice for you and your government.”
He said that the motives behind the “anarchy” are still unclear, but he is sure that they are not for the good of the country and hurt its security interests.
“This is a new low in corrupt values in the history of Israeli government,” Mofaz wrote.
He says it is doubtful military action will be effective in stopping the Iranian nuclear threat.
Such an attack would be limited, lack symmetry in the loss of life on each side, hurt the home front and weaken Israel’s international standing.
An attack would be immoral and illogical under the current circumstances, he wrote.
Mofaz also expressed concern about the erosion of the government’s relationship with the US, which he said raises questions about Netanyahu’s judgment.
“What is the real goal behind widening the gap between us and the US? What are the diplomatic, economic and operational alternatives, when faced with the lack of trust between your government and the American government?” asked Mofaz.
“Senior sources in the government made clear to you, the defense minister and myself the dramatic significance of an Israeli attack, which will lead to blatant, non-legitimate intervention in political processes within the US ahead of the presidential election in November,” he continued.
Mofaz said he made his stance clear on several occasions when he was a minister in Netanyahu’s government, in meetings with the prime minister, defense minister and heads of the IDF and other security agencies.
“It appears that you have lost your self control, as well as control over your anonymous advisers,” the opposition leader wrote. “There is no avoiding the recognition that the level of hysteria you are showing paints a negative picture of your true intentions.”
Mofaz asked to meet with Netanyahu immediately, in the framework of regular meetings between the prime minister and opposition leader, to discuss his preparations to send Israel to war. He sent a confidential document with the letter, which reviews the topic at hand and was not released to the press.
A source at the Prime Minister’s Office said a meeting between Netanyahu and Mofaz would take place next week as planned, irrespective of the letter.
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said he trusts Netanyahu will uphold the law, which says the prime minister and opposition leader must meet every 30 days.
Twenty-seven days have passed since since Mofaz was sworn in, and as such, Rivlin said in an interview with Army Radio that he is sure the two will meet in the coming days.
Rivlin added that the Knesset will have to deal with the issue of Iran, but hopes it will happen “in real-time and not as part of a never-ending argument that will harm the State of Israel’s ability to act.”
MK Ophir Akunis (Likud), a close ally of Netanyahu, said Mofaz had made himself look ridiculous.
“It is unfortunate that on a topic that requires national responsibility, Mofaz is behaving irresponsibly,” Akunis said.
“Kadima led by Mofaz is living on borrowed time.”
Gil Hoffman contributed to this report.