Israel/Iran: On Ground Updates - October 22, 2008

Israel/Iran: On Ground Updates
Top Iran Officials Recommend Preemptive Strike Against Israel - Israel Temporarily Closes Border Crossings with Gaza Strip after Rocket Attack
Wednesday, October 22, 2008

It’s been a while since we checked in on Israel, so let’s get to it...

* HAARETZ.com had the following report posed on their website early this Wednesday morning and it starts off like this... Senior Tehran officials are recommending a preemptive strike against Israel to prevent an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear reactors, a senior Islamic Republic official told foreign diplomats two weeks ago in London... The official, Dr. Seyed G. Safavi, said recent threats by Israeli authorities strengthened this position, but that as of yet, a preemptive strike has not been integrated into Iranian policy... Safavi is head of the Research Institute of Strategic Studies in Tehran, and an adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The institute is directly affiliated with Khamenei's office and with the Revolutionary Guards, and advises both on foreign policy issues... Safavi is also the brother of Yahya Rahim Safavi, who was the head of the Revolutionary Guards until a year ago and now is an adviser to Khamenei, and holds significant influence on security matters in the Iranian government...
Read the rest HERE
> HAARETZ.com also has the following follow-up posted on their website today...
Even though the senior Iranian official was speaking to a closed forum, it would not be at all surprising if his words were actually intended for an Israeli audience. Alongside the public diplomatic struggle - and Israel's secret military preparations - against the Iranian nuclear projects, there is also a war of threats and oratory going on between the two nations... The announcements of Ayatollah Seyed G. Safavi look to be another stage in the Iranian attempt to create a balance of fear and deterrence with Israel...
Read the rest at link below...
ANALYSIS / Iran's threats are not based on any proven capability
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* IHT.com posted this news up on their website this morning...
Israel temporarily closed its border crossings with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after militants from the Hamas-controlled territory fired a rocket into southern Israel...
Israel shuts Gaza crossings after rocket attack