The next challenge

The NIE report regarding the Iran nuclear situation published at the end of last year caused an international storm. The US president, the Israeli prime minister, European and Asian leaders, intelligence agencies and media centers - all attributed supreme importance to the document and proceeded to analyze its meaning.

This is not surprising in and of itself: the possibility that Iran is developing a nuclear program, the possibility that significant economic and political pressure will be applied on Iran; the possibility that the campaign to stop Iran's nuclear program will fail; the possibility that attacking Iran's nuclear sites will provoke a counter-attack; these are all scenarios that have intensely occupied the minds of decision-makers around the world in the Middle East and for world powers such as the US, China, the UK, France and Germany equally. The NIE report was bound to have an impact, direct or indirect, on the scenarios above - and has therefore generated such resonance.

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Objective: Topple Hamas

During the past few weeks, there have been numerous active public discussions about the steps that need to be undertaken to stop the Kassam rockets from falling on residents in the Gaza periphery.

One of the ministers proposes to "wipe out a designated neighborhood" to make an example of. Another minister proposes to permanently halt electricity and gas supplies to Gaza. Yet another minister sides with going for a large-scale military operation in Gaza - a move that would see Israel in complete control of Gaza by the end.

Knesset members are encouraging a renewed Israeli grasp on the border between Egypt and Gaza in order to minimize the smuggling of weapons and ammunition into Palestinian territory. An opposite view is held by MKs who prefer direct talks with Hamas to fulfill the need for a long-term ceasefire. Another proposal suggests the use of international assistance of bodies such as NATO and the UN whose presence in the region would 'separate' between the sides.

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The moment of truth is approaching

In November 2006, when I held a ministerial position in Ariel Sharon's government and was responsible, among other things, for strategic dialogue with the US, I stood at the head of the Israeli delegation preparing for a meeting in Washington.

As is customary, prior to our departure to the US, the delegation was called in for a final briefing with Prime Minister Sharon. We presented to him a list of topics that were on our agenda to be discussed in the US.

We described in detail the Israeli positions as consolidated in discussions by our team, composed of senior officials from the Foreign Ministry, the Prime Minister's Office, the Defense Ministry, the IDF and the Mossad.

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