The fierce national debate over whether to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities was re-ignited this weekend after another former top Israeli security official voiced his strident opposition to military action. This time it was Yuval Diskin who just ended a 6 year stint as the head of Israel's domestic Security Agency, known as the Shin Bet. With the cameras rolling at a political discussion group, Diskin slammed Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak for their leadership on Iran, saying he has no faith in either man to lead Israel in or out of a large-scale conflict. He said he objects to the current operational discussions of an attack and doesn't trust Netanyahu and Barak because their decisions on Iran are based on what he calls quote "messianic" motives. Diskin went on to accuse Netanyahu and Barak of misleading the Israeli public that a military strike can prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. It's much more likely, Diskin argued, that an Israeli strike would galvanize Muslim support for Iran, lend its nuclear weapons program more legitimacy and perhaps even accelerate the program. And many other experts agree, he added. Diskin's remarks have rattled the political establishment. They are the most public, the most blunt and the most severe criticisms made yet by a former top security official. Aides close to the Prime Minister and Defense Minister, as well as some Likud lawmakers have rushed to criticize and discredit Diskin. Airing his views has been called "irresponsible," "inappropriate," and putting Israel's security at risk. Sources close to Netanyahu say political revenge has motivated Diskin who, the theory goes, is angry that he was passed over for the top job at Israel's spy agency, the Mossad. The accusation of a personal or political vendetta has been used before on those who oppose the government's military option. When the former head of the Mossad, Meir Dagan came out publicly against an Israeli strike on Iran, he was accused of doing it to create his path into politics... The question this time is whether the Israeli public will buy a version of that argument again...some analysts say no... In addition to Dagan and Diskin, the former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi is said to have serious reservations about the wisdom of an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities and his replacement Benny Gantz reportedly also has his doubts. The Israeli press has generally come to Diskin's defense, calling him the one who has dared to say "the emperor has no clothes." His warning should be taken all the more seriously, some argue, because after the ridicule Dagan underwent, Diskin, was still willing to speak out... Diskin is not known in international circles, but he was one of a handful of the most important security officials in the country for six years as the head of the Shin Bet. And that's why everyday Israelis may take Diskin's words seriously. It may feed the public's growing opposition to the idea of a military strike on Iran which has already been expressed in the popular social media WE love Iran campaign. Some here believe Yuval Diskin's remarks may interfere with Netanyahu's policy on Iran. According to the latest polls, only about 1/3 of Israelis support a unilateral strike and many believe Netanyahu will have to convince more Israelis before he can send the fighter jets on that long and dangerous journey to Tehran. Diskin's now public opposition may make it a lot harder for Netanyahu to do that. David Horovitz, Editor of The Times of Israel: "I think it becomes increasingly hard to believe that all these ex-security chiefs have some kind of personal vendetta. We now have a situation where the former head of the Mossad and the former head of the Shin Beth, the two key intelligence agencies, are stridently suggesting to the Israeli public that the leadership is getting it wrong on Iran. We are told that some of the current security chiefs and a few people who haven't yet spoken feel pretty much the same. "If you're risen up through the top of hierarchy and you've been privy to very classified details as Diskin, and like I said the former Mossad chief Meir Dagan, both have done. And you then they on that on the basis of the all the things you have seen and all the people you have worked with, and the prime ministers, and defense ministers you briefed and sat with, that you think they got it wrong. You know, it doesn't matter how well known you are, they are pretty credible people with great information that most of the Israelis don't have." Jordana Miller JN1 Jerusalem

• published: 02 May 2012
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