Who wants Israel to bomb Iran?

Haaretz - The whole world very much wants Israel to send its pilots and planes to bomb Iran. Only a few senior Israelis oppose the move - most of them ex-officers in the defense establishment, as well as a handful of people who aren't listened to "because they don't know anything."

With these exceptions, there is a worldwide consensus in favor of an Israeli attack; it includes presidents Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin and Francois Hollande, and Chancellor Angela Merkel. The heads of the Arab states are also on board, as are, of course, the governments of every other country. The one who most wants an Israeli attack on Iran is Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

No reasonable person can ignore the increasing danger to civilization if Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's Iran joins the atomic club. In addition to the nuclear danger, such a development could have ramifications on the balance of power, the world economy and Islam's standing around the globe. The leaders of every country are aware of this danger and are doing what they consider their utmost to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Some people want us to believe that the fear of an Israeli attack on Iran is a key element in encouraging world leaders to act urgently to stop Iran's nuclearization. The opposite is true.

According to the powers, there are several obstacles on the way to an attack on Iran. One is public opinion. Another is the realization deep in the heads of the American, Russian and perhaps even the Chinese leaders that it's impossible to use military force to defeat a community of 79 million people. Another obstacle, one seen mainly by European leaders, is the fear of violent revenge in their countries by Iran's religious and fanatical rulers. Iran has the means to deal painful blows to Europe, and Iran's leaders are likely to use them without considering the price Iran itself would pay.

Most obstacles to a strike on Iran would be removed if Tehran clearly attacked another country, even if that country were Israel. To the world, which is looking on in fear, an Israeli attack on Iran would be the worm on the hook for Tehran to swallow. Its response, which would not be long in coming, would give the powers the green light to use military force to end the Iranian nuclear threat, at least temporarily. The fact that the worm would be destroyed or at least badly hurt doesn't interest the French president, who was elected to defend Paris, not Tel Aviv or Dimona.

The one who most wants an Israeli attack on Iran is Ahmadinejad, whose heart's desire is apparently to deal a very heavy blow, if not a deathblow, to Israel. But even he understands that he can't satisfy his desires with an act not rooted in the world's accepted political culture. Still, an Israeli attack on Iran would give him a freer hand; he would be able to leave office having satisfied more than half his desires.

Ahmadinejad's behavior in recent years reflects this fairly clearly. There appears to be a basis to the assumption that his conduct is guided by people with expert insight into Israel's current leaders. He denies the Holocaust with much fanfare, states clearly his desire to eradicate the little Satan, and makes explicit threats against Tel Aviv for the whole world to hear - even the Americans.

He systematically builds his image as Hitler's double, as Israel's leaders see him. He's also preparing nuclear facilities in his country to serve as easy targets for an air strike. He's doing all this to lure Israel's leaders to do something on their own initiative. If they do something, Ahmadinejad will have achieved his aim - not to mention his joy when he has 10 captured Israeli pilots in his hands.

If a certain two people in Israel don't control their urges and willingly join the world's desire for Israel to attack Iran, the international accord will be complete. For the first time since God stopped the construction of the Tower of Babel, the entire human race will get together with the same goal in mind. It will be up to us Israelis to regret that we're the ones to pay the price for this rare human harmony.