As the U.S. Prepares to Talk With Iran, Israel Prepares a Military Option

Israel is ratcheting up pressure on Iran and the United States as it publicly prepares a military option against Tehran’s nuclear program that would risk triggering a larger regional conflict. On Jan. 25, the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, said that the Israeli military was refreshing its plans for a strike on Iran to supplement Israel’s current strategy. Kochavi said the IDF would develop the plans over the next year. The IDF reportedly requested $918 million to supplement its annual budget from the Knesset to develop military options for an Iran strike. Israel’s national budget has not been passed, but the supplement was likely to be approved by the security cabinet headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Kochavi also said that Iran could be months or even weeks away from a bomb, should Tehran attempt a dash for a nuclear weapon....