Ha'aretz's Shmuel Rosner in TNR:

... Today, Israelis are convinced that the world is preparing to live with a nuclear Iran. Everyone, from the prime minister on down, agrees that Iran has not been made to feel the bite of real sanctions--at least not to an extent that would change its behavior. The U.S. National Intelligence Estimate published late last year--which argued that Iran had suspended its nuclear program--was widely dismissed in Israel as evidence that the U.S. defense establishment was now inclined to turn the other way as Iran pursued its nuclear ambitions. More recently, Israelis listened carefully to the words of President Bush on his June European tour when he said that he expected to "leave behind a multilateral framework to work on this issue." Bush used a similar formulation six weeks ago when I interviewed him in the Oval Office. Asked what can be achieved on the Iranian front before he leaves office, the president said, "I think what definitely will be done is a structure on how to deal with this ... a framework to make sure other countries are involved." Israelis hear "framework" and run to their shelters. ...

For his part, Israeli member of the Knesset Ephraim Sneh, who has long been part of an effort to make the Iran issue an international one, writes me that, "I don't think that any military action will be taken before a new [U.S.] president assume office." More here. I'm told Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak has canceled his visit to Washington planned to start today because of a planned prisoner exchange.

Posted by Laura at July 14, 2008 10:55 AM