Bombing Iran's nuclear installations would be wildly popular with Israelis, who have been deeply frightened by highly exaggerated warnings of Iran's threat, and would, of course, give the embattled Netanyahu a badly-needed political boost. It would also conveniently divert attention away from the foundering peace process. In the duplicitous Mideast, however, things are never quite what they appear. Israel has adopted a two-track strategy towards Iran. While Israel considers bombing Iran, it is also pursuing secret contacts with Tehran which, before the 1979 Iranian Revolution, was a close ally of Israel.
Israeli strategists see Iran as a major potential ally, arms customer, and energy source.
Iranians, who despise Arabs, have always had a sneaking admiration for the Jewish state. Israel's militantly anti-Iranian supporters in North America have not yet understood these political arabesques. No wonder nerves are more frayed than ever in the nervous Mideast.