Be wary the political rhetoric around war with Iran - comment

• Published date: 10 April 2024
• Author: ALEX WINSTON
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

This followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement a few days ago: "We will know how to defend ourselves, and we will act according to the simple principle: that those who harm us or plan to harm us, we will harm."

The warnings came after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel "must be punished and it shall be," for allegedly killing two high-ranking Iranian military officials in an attack on Iran's consular complex in Damascus..

Iran and Israel have danced this dance before.

Ayatollahs and presidents have threatened to wipe the Zionists off the face of the Earth almost since the day Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini became leader of the Islamic Republic.

Who could forget Bibi at the UN with his Looney Toon image of a bomb and how close Iran was to finally achieving nuclear weapons?

This is not to downplay the threat of Iran to Israel or Israeli citizens.

The proof of the danger of Iran through its proxies is clear, as we saw on October 7. The actions of Hamas terrorists sent this nation into a trauma that will probably take generations (if we have them) to recover from. Hezbollah sits patiently above our northern border firing rockets and UAVs, waiting their turn to be dealt with.

Commentators have pointed out that now is one of the few occasions that Israel is genuinely calling the Iranians' bluff. After allegedly killing X in Syria, there has been threat after threat about Iran's response.

Israel is standing there, arms out defiantly, saying "Yalla."

Schools have begun sending out messages to parents regarding the possibility of remote learning if Israel and Iran should fall into a conventional war.

People are buying supplies and stocking up on necessities to provide for their families in case there is a war.

This is all fair. Iranian threats should not be treated lightly.

What should be treated with some caution are the comments of Israeli politicians. Be wary of any politician warning the public about war with Iran. Beware political rhetoric.

Failing governments always seek a...