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Condi: Israel should "confront" Syria diplomatically, not attack militarily. (File photo)
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| By Israel Insider staff October 6, 2007 |
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Israel was ready to strike alleged Syrian nuclear facilities in July, but gave in to American pressure to postpone the attack, ABC News reported Saturday. The strike day was reportedly July 14, but some members in the Bush Administration, especially Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, pressure Israel to delay action.
The ostensible reason for the delay were doubts in Washington that Israeli intelligence about the facility, including the key role played by North Korea, was accurate. But even after Israeli officials provided strong intel, the Americans dragged their feet in giving the approval. Eventually, fearing that leaks would scrub the mission, Israel decided to strike on it own on September 6, nearly two months after the planned date.
ABC reported that Israel presented the United States with satellite images of Syrian nuclear sites months before the September attack, along with evidence proving that part of the nuclear technology was provided by North Korea. The official defined the information as "jaw dropping", and said it raised serious questions as to why US intelligence had not uncovered the facility.
"Israel tends to be very thorough about its intelligence coverage, particularly when it takes a major military step, so they would not have acted without data from several sources," ABC military consultant Tony Cordesman said.
ABC reported that even though some Administration officials supported the proposed Israeli action, others, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, opposed an immediate attack, and officials urged Israel to confront Syria before attacking. The Israelis believed that a diplomatic confrontation would simply cause the Syrians to evade attack.
Israel initially succumbed to American pressure and called off the July strike, but by September -- fearing leaks from the widening circle of those who knew -- could not wait any longer. |
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