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Panetta meets Israeli leaders amid reports of splits on striking Iran Panetta meets Israeli leaders amid reports of splits on striking Iran
(about 2 hours later)
Leon Panetta, the US defence secretary, is meeting political leaders and security officials in Israel, as the country's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, insisted he would take a decision about whether or when to attack Iran's nuclear facilities amid reports that the Israeli military is opposed to such a move.Leon Panetta, the US defence secretary, is meeting political leaders and security officials in Israel, as the country's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, insisted he would take a decision about whether or when to attack Iran's nuclear facilities amid reports that the Israeli military is opposed to such a move.
In a series of television interviews as Panetta arrived in Tel Aviv from Egypt, Netanyahu said Israel had the right to defend itself. "Things that affect our fate, our very existence, we don't entrust to others – not even to our best friends," he said.In a series of television interviews as Panetta arrived in Tel Aviv from Egypt, Netanyahu said Israel had the right to defend itself. "Things that affect our fate, our very existence, we don't entrust to others – not even to our best friends," he said.
Following media reports that senior defence officials, including military chief of staff Benny Gantz and Mossad chief Tamar Pardo, are opposed to early unilateral action, the prime minister said any decision would be taken by the country's political leadership. But, he added: "I have not taken a decision." Following media reports that senior defence officials, including military chief of staff Benny Gantz and Mossad chief Tamar Pardo, are opposed to early unilateral action, the prime minister said any decision would be taken by the country's political leadership. But he added: "I have not taken a decision."
"In every democracy the decision-maker is the political echelon and the implementer is the professional echelon," he said. "That is how it always was and that is how it always will be.""In every democracy the decision-maker is the political echelon and the implementer is the professional echelon," he said. "That is how it always was and that is how it always will be."
Referring to former prime minister Menachem Begin's decision in 1981 to bomb a nuclear reactor in Iraq against the advice of security officials, Netanyahu said: "It was obvious that the political echelon makes the decisions because it both sees the big picture and shoulders ultimate responsibility. The principle remains the same."Referring to former prime minister Menachem Begin's decision in 1981 to bomb a nuclear reactor in Iraq against the advice of security officials, Netanyahu said: "It was obvious that the political echelon makes the decisions because it both sees the big picture and shoulders ultimate responsibility. The principle remains the same."
Gantz denied he was behind the media reports, saying: "I tell the political echelon what I have to say, and they listen." The Israeli military was prepared for a military strike, he said. "As we see it, 'all options are on the table' is not a slogan, it is a working plan and we are doing it."Gantz denied he was behind the media reports, saying: "I tell the political echelon what I have to say, and they listen." The Israeli military was prepared for a military strike, he said. "As we see it, 'all options are on the table' is not a slogan, it is a working plan and we are doing it."
After a period in which speculation over whether Israel would strike Iran's nuclear sites in the coming months quietened, the question has returned to the fore. There have been fresh reports of a split between the political and security establishments over the merits of early unilateral action, following open opposition to such a move from former security chiefs.After a period in which speculation over whether Israel would strike Iran's nuclear sites in the coming months quietened, the question has returned to the fore. There have been fresh reports of a split between the political and security establishments over the merits of early unilateral action, following open opposition to such a move from former security chiefs.
There is also some speculation that Israel may choose to act ahead of the US elections in early November, especially if Obama's chances of re-election are strengthened. There is also some speculation that Israel may choose to act ahead of the US elections in early November, especially if Barack Obama's chances of re-election are strengthened.
Panetta's visit – the fourth senior US administration official to visit Israel in the past few weeks – follows that of presumptive Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who pledged the US "will not look away" in the face of an existential threat to Israel from Iran. A senior Romney aide suggested that Romney would back unilateral action taken by Israel. Panetta's visit – he is the fourth senior US administration official to visit Israel in the past few weeks – follows that of presumptive Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who pledged the US "will not look away" in the face of an existential threat to Israel from Iran. A senior Romney aide suggested that Romney would back unilateral action taken by Israel.
Panetta denied that he would share with Israeli officials US contingency plans to attack Iran if sanctions and diplomacy failed to halt the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme in an attempt to dissuade Israel from acting alone.Panetta denied that he would share with Israeli officials US contingency plans to attack Iran if sanctions and diplomacy failed to halt the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme in an attempt to dissuade Israel from acting alone.
"I think it's a wrong characterisation to say we are going to be discussing potential attack plans. What we are discussing are various contingencies and how we would respond," he said at a press conference in Cairo before leaving for Israel."I think it's a wrong characterisation to say we are going to be discussing potential attack plans. What we are discussing are various contingencies and how we would respond," he said at a press conference in Cairo before leaving for Israel.
The defence secretary is meeting his counterpart Ehud Barak as well as Netanyahu. He will tour an Iron Dome battery, which Israel deploys against rockets and missiles fired from the Gaza Strip. The defence secretary is meeting his counterpart, Ehud Barak, as well as Netanyahu. He will tour an Iron Dome battery, which Israel deploys against rockets and missiles fired from the Gaza Strip.
Panetta said on Monday that international sanctions against Iran were having "a serious impact in terms of the economy in Iran. And while the results of that may not be obvious at the moment, the fact is that [the Iranians] have expressed a willingness to negotiate and they continue to seem interested in trying to find a diplomatic solution". Panetta said on Monday that international sanctions against Iran were having "a serious impact in terms of the economy in Iran. And while the results of that may not be obvious at the moment, the fact is that [the Iranians] have expressed a willingness to negotiate and they continue to seem interested in trying to find a diplomatic solution."
Netanyahu also conceded that sanctions were hurting the Iranian economy, but had "yet to move its nuclear programme even a millimetre backwards".Netanyahu also conceded that sanctions were hurting the Iranian economy, but had "yet to move its nuclear programme even a millimetre backwards".
At a meeting between Panetta and Barak early on Wednesday, the Israeli defence minister said: "The relationship between Israel and America in the security field is stronger and tighter than ever … Israel and the US have many shared interests, and we will certainly be busy; there is much to discuss."At a meeting between Panetta and Barak early on Wednesday, the Israeli defence minister said: "The relationship between Israel and America in the security field is stronger and tighter than ever … Israel and the US have many shared interests, and we will certainly be busy; there is much to discuss."