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Elections Unlikely to Change Israel’s Iran Strategy

The results of the recent Israeli elections are unlikely to bring much change to Israel’s Iran strategy, writes Meir Javedanfar.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) leaves the Likud-Yisrael Beitenu headquarters in Tel Aviv January 23, 2013. Hawkish Prime Minister Netanyahu emerged the bruised winner of Israel's election on Tuesday, claiming victory despite unexpected losses to resurgent centre-left challengers. REUTERS/Nir Elias (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

The results of the recent Israeli elections are unlikely to bring much change to Israel’s current Iran strategy.

That's first and foremost because of the Iranian regime's behavior. As long as Iran refuses to answer the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s questions about suspected weapon-building activity (including alleged activities related to building a nuclear trigger), nobody in Israel will believe the narrative that Iran only wants energy for peaceful purposes. On top of that, Iran hid Fordo from the IAEA before opening it, which former IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei said was “on the wrong side of the law." Although Israelis differ on the importance of Iranian nuclear threat and the optimal strategy for addressing it, Israelis are unanimous in not wanting the Iranian regime to have nuclear weapons.

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