[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

After Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s address to the AIPAC (The American Israel Public Affairs Committee) Policy Conference signaling from Israel’s point of view, time is running out regarding Iran’s nuclear program, coupled with the address to AIPAC and White House visit by President Shimon Peres, it is clear to all that it is just a matter of time.

That is to say that today, President Barak Obama is on board, agreeing with Israeli assessments that Tehran’s nuclear ambitions are military related and not for research, science and/or education as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would like the world to believe.

In Israel, some jokingly say that just as Israel is a number of hours ahead of the United States from a time perspective, the same appears to hold true regarding Iran, and while the White House is closing in on Israel’s position, a time lag remains.

2012 IS NOT 1944

Few will argue regarding the oratory skills of the prime minister, who eloquently delivered his message to the White House and international community form the AIPAC forum. Mr. Netanyahu’s comment “2012 is not 1944” will undoubtedly resonate loud and clear for some time to come, as he reminded his audience in 1944, the AJC called upon the White House to bomb the railways to Auschwitz, and the response was “Such an effort might provoke even more vindictive action by the Germans…”.

His analogy was potent and his message crystal clear, that today, the Jewish People have a sovereign state and a military, and if left without other alternatives, Israel will not wait for the international community to take action to save us.

Jerusalem has known strained relations with the current White House administration, but it now appears that the situation is vastly improved and one can only assume the high-level meetings taking place of late in Washington and Jerusalem are delving into the array of possibilities regarding Iran.

Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Intelligence & Atomic Energy (Likud) this morning (12 Adar 5772) told Israel Radio that “It would be best if we stopped speaking about possibilities concerning Iran, not what if, or if or when or how. It is certain to all that Israel has capabilities but I will not discuss the situation in any way”.

Meridor did however acknowledge that time was running out and state officials are monitoring the situation. He stressed that what is very significant is recent statements released by President Barak Obama that the US will not permit Iran to achieve nuclear independence.

He was followed by retired IDF deputy chief of staff and chief of military intelligence Dr. Uzi Dayan, who told Israel Radio that while not everyone feels the same “threat level, it is clear to all that Iran’s nuclear program does pose a threat to all” and he too appears to be of the opinion that the question regarding a military strike is more of “when” rather than “if”.

Analysts in Israel add that American cooperation will be part of any Israeli operation, with the question remaining just how much will be open support and backing or possibly and according to many more likely; clandestine support accompanied with public condemnation as the White House wishes to protect US interests abroad.

Click HERE to watch this video from a mobile device.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)