Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Ben-Yisrael: Israel has the ability to attack Iran

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Kadima MK Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Yitzhak Ben-Yisrael said Tuesday that Israel was capable of striking Iran, but would not yet use its might since there was still time for diplomatic measures to be effective in stooping Teheran's race toward becoming a nuclear power. "Israel has the ability to attack Iran and the only reason it isn't using its power is not because of its inability or lack of know-how, but because there is still time," he told Army Radio. Ben-Yisrael assessed that even if Israel does strike Iran, it won't happen in the next few months. "I believe it is still early. The timetable, as we understand it today, is not a few months, it is much more than that. The most pessimistic are talking about a year, others are saying three years. Either way, at the moment the world must focus on diplomatic measures," he said. Nevertheless, Ben Yisrael declared that if diplomatic efforts fail to stop Iran attaining nuclear weapons, there will be no choice but to use force. "Israel cannot come to terms with a situation in which Iran has an independent capability to enrich uranium and build an atomic bomb," he said.