Y. Red, 19 June 2025
Amos Harel, a Zionist military commentator who believes, without any proof, that Iran worked to develop nuclear weapons,
writes in Haaretz (at 06:00 on June 17, 2025): "The Israeli attack on Iran, which led to the start of an all-out war between the two countries, was intended to achieve a two- or three-year
delay in Iranian plans. Its main goal is to delay the Iranians from rapidly acquiring the capability to fully develop nuclear weapons, from increasing the number of ballistic missiles in their
possession to about 8,000 within two years, and from making progress toward the possibility of carrying out a major attack on Israel – what is known here as a "plan of destruction."
The Israeli bombings, which also included the assassinations of dozens of senior regime officials in Tehran and its
security apparatuses, are supposed to pave the way for US President Donald Trump's intervention. Jerusalem still hopes that Trump will force the Iranians into a more demanding arrangement thanks
to the military move. In the background – as evidenced by Monday's bombings, which were aimed at targets affiliated with the regime, such as the Iranian state television station – it is clear
that Israel is still trying to promote the collapse of the regime in Tehran. This is a very ambitious goal, and it is doubtful that it is achievable. The rising numbers of civilians killed in
Iran by Israeli bombings could also have the opposite effect of a part of the public rallying around the hated regime, in light of the threat from outside.
A funeral for those killed in an Israeli attack in western Iran yesterday. The rising numbers of civilians killed could
unite the public around the government
Israel has dealt a dramatic opening blow to Iran, but even after four days of fighting, enormous damage in Tehran and
considerable destruction in Tel Aviv, it is still impossible to declare that the goals, overt or less visible, have been achieved or are within reach. Was there a realistic purpose here, or is it
merely wishful thinking? Israel has started the campaign brilliantly, but its military moves are far from over. There is uncertainty regarding the position of the United States, along with
uncertainty regarding the end scenarios. There is a natural fear that this will descend into a long war of attrition, for which Israel is not prepared.
When one marvels at the successes of the Air Force, Military Intelligence and the Mossad in the attack, the interceptions
of the air defense system, and the resourcefulness of the Home Front Command's rescuers, one should not ignore the basic fact that all the recent governments did almost nothing to close a
critical gap. Tens of percent of the country's residents, many of them in the big cities, do not have an accessible protection solution in the form of a shelter or a safe room near them. Nor has
anyone prepared the public for the differences between firing from Gaza or Yemen and what the residents of Gush Dan and Haifa have been going through in recent nights. After the IDF was able to
eliminate most of the missile threat from Hezbollah, it can be assumed that many civilians believed that the great danger had been reduced.
It is clear that Israel is still trying to promote the collapse of the regime in Tehran. This is a very ambitious goal,
and it is doubtful that it is achievable
As of last night, 23 Israeli civilians have been killed in the massive Iranian bombings, hundreds have been injured and
dozens of buildings have been destroyed or will have to be demolished. These are damages on a scale that Israelis are not used to, at least not in the center of the country. Since the beginning
of the war, about 350 ballistic missiles have been launched into Israel from Iran, and more than 90% of them were intercepted by air defense systems or landed in open areas. The number of
fatalities recorded is lower than previously estimated by the General Staff.
Obeying the instructions of the Home Front Command, and staying in a shelter or safe room usually saves lives. So far,
with the exception of those killed by a direct missile strike on a safe room in Petah Tikva, there have been no fatalities inside the safe rooms as a result of the hit, but these are of course
temporary results. A mass casualty event, a direct attack on a strategic asset or a site of symbolic importance, can change the public atmosphere on the home front, which is already fraught with
stress and anxiety.
The location of the missile from Iran hit the BAZAN yesterday. A mass casualty event, a direct hit on a strategic asset or
a site of symbolic importance can change the public atmosphere
The IDF notes a significant advantage that has been achieved: the establishment of full freedom of air action, aided by
accurate real-time intelligence, in the skies over western Iran. This goal was already achieved on Saturday, faster than the army expected, and it makes it possible to attack dozens of
surface-to-surface missile launchers and hundreds of missiles, along with the destruction of surface-to-air missile batteries. The damage to senior officials also continues, albeit on a
decreasing scale. The IDF describes this as granting freedom of action to the first circle (such as Beirut or Gaza) in the third circle. Israel imitated the American moves in the opening of the
two Gulf wars against Iraq, in 1991 and 2003: a method of "shock and awe," which relies mainly on the use of air power.
Between declarations and steps
Where do we go from here? As has been written here since the beginning of the campaign, the main and decisive unknown, is
the degree of support the US administration for Israel. Will the public statements, the transfer of armaments, and the assistance in intelligence and defense also be translated into offensive
measures? Yesterday, the movement of about 30 American refueling planes from a base in the United States on their way east attracted attention. In the first scenario, American joining the
offensive against the Fordow nuclear facility and regime targets could completely change the balance of power and fulfill all of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fantasies. But Trump has not
yet shown signs that he is moving in the right direction, and there is strong opposition in the separatist circle around him to direct U.S. involvement.
According to the second scenario, Trump implores Netanyahu to hurry up and end the war in a position of victory and forces
the sides to a quick ceasefire, while trying to achieve a new nuclear agreement under tougher conditions for Iran (the IDF hopes that they will be given more time to attack, despite the damage on
the home front). And the third, and perhaps the most dangerous, scenario concerns the development of a war of attrition. Israel could find itself in the same situation as Ukraine, which has been
battling Russia for more than three years. The Ukrainians at least enjoy a lot of international support.
The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that Iran is already urgently signaling its desire to end the war and renew
negotiations on the nuclear deal. According to the report, which is attributed to officials in the Middle East and Europe, Tehran conveyed these messages to the United States and Israel through
Arab mediators. This is very encouraging news, but there is a slight suspicion that at such an early stage it may be too good to be true. The blow that Iran has suffered from Israel is severe and
unprecedented in its scope, but it is impossible to ignore the determination shown by the extremist regime to date. What's more, the veteran newspaper (without involving its skilled staff in
Israel) has already been suspected in recent years of volunteering to serve as a channel for releasing stories favorable to Netanyahu.
The person who unwisely contributes to the accusations that Israel is deliberately harming civilians in Tehran is Defense
Minister Yisrael Katz. Yesterday, Katz tweeted on his Twitter account, following the heavy rocket fire on Gush Dan, that "the people of Tehran will pay the price and soon." This is a statement
that embroils Israel, and Katz himself, with accusations of war crimes, precisely on a front where the IDF is more selective in its use of fire than in Gaza. Later, Katz was forced to issue a
clarification statement. This is no longer a ridiculous matter, but real damage. Pilots are risking their lives in Iran, soldiers are being killed in Gaza and civilians are being killed on the
home front – and for Katz, the war is portrayed as one big photo opportunity. "There is no polite way to say it," wrote journalist David Halberstam of Robert McNamara, the U.S. secretary of
defense at the beginning of the Vietnam War. "He was a fool."
Katz is the man Netanyahu chose to appoint to such a senior position in the midst of a war. What else continues to
preoccupy the prime minister during such a difficult war, embarking on the most important strategic campaign of his life? Yesterday, he appealed to the High Court of Justice to cancel the
Attorney General's opinion and to urgently appoint his candidate, Maj. Gen. David Zini, to the position of head of the Shin Bet after the resignation of Ronen Bar the day before. The campaign to
dismantle democracy continues, despite the war with Iran, and may be accelerated under its auspices.
Considerations in question
Netanyahu did not take care to share his considerations with the citizens of Israel on the eve of the attack, in order to
preserve the element of surprise in Iran. Following the initial attacks, the prime minister stated that new intelligence had emerged in recent months, leaving him no choice but to take action.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who now enjoys a great deal of public trust, made sure to declare that the decision to go to war was "practical and professional." However, many former senior
defense officials have doubts, especially about Netanyahu's considerations, which have rightfully earned him a lack of trust in previous years."[i]
Iran did not want a war with Israel. We saw it when the Mullahs deserted the Palestinians and put pressure on Hezbollah to
agree to a bad ceasefire deal with Israel. For this reason, the Zionist monster was able to surprise the regime. Clearly the U.S gave Israel the green light to attack.
Iran did not want to develop nuclear bombs; For religious ideological reasons, we saw it in the long and bloody war between
Iraq and Iran.
We have to consider that Arhel's interpretation is by a Zionist who supports the Zionist war. However, even so, he reflects
the fear of the Israelis who celebrated at the beginning of the war. It also tells us that Israel is killing civilians, including women and children.
Defend Iran!
Revolutionary defeat for the Zionist monster!
