Symbolically, that is good. But practically, it does not really matter.
Israel and Iran are getting into a tit-for-tat. The problem is that they disagree on who is tit and who is tat. Iran (and the US, and every honest observer) thinks both sides got their strike in and considers the matter closed. Israel seems to think they are owed a strike. The problem is that if Israel takes another strike, Iran will feel that they need to take anotherone, at which point Israel will feel the need to take another one, … . Unless one side is willing to let the other have the last attack, this ends in war.
For it to be meaningful, Biden would need to say “The US will not back you in a war with Iran if that comes as a result of this exchange”; but I can not imagine Biden doing that.
Israel’s position in this matter is transparently farcicle. What seems to be happening here is:
Israel attacked an Iranian embassy.
Iran attacked Israel. Most of the attack was intercepted, and Israel suffered minimal damage.
Iran says “you titted, I tatted. We cool now”
You are here
Israel says “Perhaps you misunderstood my previous act of war. Please find enclosed a second act of war”
…
Israel and Iran are at war. The US gets dragged in. Netenyahu clings to power and avoids criminal prosecution on corruption charges for a little longer.
Unless somewhere down the line, the Israeli people find their backbone to toss Netanyahu out to the ocean. It’s more likely to happen before a WW3. But nobody knows how many lives must be ruined before that point.
Iran sets off a nuclear device. Russia will join in Ukraine with “They did it first!” and we’re all done for.
I’m really, really starting to hate Netanjahu. I’ll admit, I was wrong at the beginning of this year, saying he does what he has to. Everything Israel has done after the first two weeks after the terrorist attack is utterly ridiculous.
Symbolically, that is good. But practically, it does not really matter.
Israel and Iran are getting into a tit-for-tat. The problem is that they disagree on who is tit and who is tat. Iran (and the US, and every honest observer) thinks both sides got their strike in and considers the matter closed. Israel seems to think they are owed a strike. The problem is that if Israel takes another strike, Iran will feel that they need to take anotherone, at which point Israel will feel the need to take another one, … . Unless one side is willing to let the other have the last attack, this ends in war.
For it to be meaningful, Biden would need to say “The US will not back you in a war with Iran if that comes as a result of this exchange”; but I can not imagine Biden doing that.
Israel’s position in this matter is transparently farcicle. What seems to be happening here is:
…
Unless somewhere down the line, the Israeli people find their backbone to toss Netanyahu out to the ocean. It’s more likely to happen before a WW3. But nobody knows how many lives must be ruined before that point.
I’m really, really starting to hate Netanjahu. I’ll admit, I was wrong at the beginning of this year, saying he does what he has to. Everything Israel has done after the first two weeks after the terrorist attack is utterly ridiculous.
Somehow Israel always seems to wind up in these sort of conflicts. Hmm.