Former Defense Minister: Israel Considered Bombing Iranian Nuke Facilities

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iStock/Thinkstock(JERUSALEM) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued veiled threats to attack Iranian nuclear facilities. Now, we know from his former defense minister, Ehud Barak, that he was serious.

In taped interviews, Barak revealed that Israel considered bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities on three separate occasions between 2010 and 2012. The plans, led by Netanyahu, were abandoned, Barak says, due to three political rivals and the timing of a joint U.S.-Israeli military exercise.

Remarks by the former head of the Mossad and other key former officials show Barak and Netanyahu faced widespread internal opposition to a unilateral Israeli strike.

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