Defense Analyst Addresses Iranian Threat

Date: November 4, 2009

"2010 will be a crucial year for the Middle East, Israel and the world," Yaakov Katz said at a recent ADL Plains States event.  Katz, the military correspondent and defense analyst for The Jerusalem Post, addressed a group of Omahans on the Iranian nuclear threat, which has been mounting as rapidly as the Islamic Republic's uranium stockpiles, nuclear delivery capability and international terrorist network.

According to Katz, one of three scenarios will take place next year:  1. Iran will agree to stop its nuclear program, amounting to a supreme diplomatic achievement for the Obama administration; 2. If negotiations fail, the world will have to decide to impose severe sanctions; 3. If sanctions fail, Israel will have to determine whether to take unilateral action against Iran.

The options, along with the clock, are running out. Recognized as the world's greatest state sponsor of international terrorism, "Iran's goal is to destroy Israel and the West by undermining western-backed countries," Katz said. "A nuclear-armed Iran will spark an arms race in the region."

Already, a constellation of Arab and Muslim countries are initiating their own nuclear programs in the wake of Iran's advancements; these include Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen (The Israel Project).

What can Israel do in the face of this pressing threat? While sanctions on Iran's energy sector may prove effective, Israeli is gearing up on both diplomatic and military fronts, continuing to hone IDF's interoperability, purchase and procure the most advanced weaponry; and restore Israel's level of deterrence in the region, Katz said.

After his talk, Katz took numerous questions from the audience. When asked whether and how he sleeps at night, the defense analyst replied, "very well, actually. Israel is a strong, resilient nation, but its right to exist needs to be recognized."