U.S.: Signs Point to Israeli Attack on Iran

By Haaretz February 19, 2012

As senior U.S. security adviser Tom Donilon arrived in Saturday night to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue with top Israeli officials, a U.S. official has told Haaretz that all the messages from Israel in recent months pointed to the likelihood of an Israeli strike on Iran.

Deputy U.S. National Security Adviser Tom Donilon is set to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and advisers on Sunday, as part of preparations for Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to Washington, D.C. next month, which will include a meeting with President Barack Obama.

That visit is also expected to focus on Tehran’s nuclear program, and U.S. concerns that Israel is planning to attack Iranian atomic facilities within a few months.

Speaking to Haaretz off the record, a senior U.S. official said that in the past six months the messages reaching Washington from Jerusalem have increasingly pointed to the likelihood of an Israeli strike.

The U.S. administration wants Israel to wait a few months in order to give the international sanctions against Iran a chance before deciding on an attack. A few days ago, officials in Tehran expressed a readiness to resume negotiations with the six main powers.

For more, go to Haaretz.com

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