Wsj why israel needs the bomb

Join the conversation below. The current fighting between Israel and Hamas is the most intense since the most recent of three wars, in Israel says Hamas started the current conflict by launching rockets at Jerusalem on May Hamas has since fired more than 4, rockets and missiles into Israel, killing 12 people, including one child, according to Israeli officials.

Relief and Works Agency says tens of thousands have been displaced from their homes. Hamas on Wednesday accused Israel of starting the conflict with what it called provocative actions at the Al Aqsa Mosque and in East Jerusalem.

Earlier this month, Palestinians demonstrated over the possible eviction of residents from homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem. Israeli police stormed the Al Aqsa mosque during a crackdown on protesters, who police said threw stones and fireworks at them.

Days later, Hamas fired a salvo of rockets into Israel. Israel accuses Hamas of placing operatives and infrastructure among the civilian population and says it has aborted operations to avoid harming civilians. As many as five rockets were launched Wednesday from southern Lebanon toward Israel, according to a Lebanese intelligence official.

Israel responded by shelling areas in south Lebanon, the official said. The attack is the third of its kind in less than a week, the official said, and the military is attempting to locate those responsible for the attack. As the death toll in Gaza and Israel has climbed, the U. Washington is also working with Qatar, where some senior Hamas leaders are based, but Doha is seen as having less influence over Hamas than Cairo, according to a Western official familiar with the talks.

Cairo has sent humanitarian aid to Gaza—dispatching a fleet of ambulances and medical supplies earlier this week and opening a border crossing so that injured Palestinians can be treated inside Egypt.

A group of progressive House lawmakers led by Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez D. You may change your billing preferences at any time in the Customer Center or call Customer Service. You will be notified in advance of any changes in rate or terms. You may cancel your subscription at anytime by calling Customer Service. Skip to Main Content Skip to Search. News Corp is a global, diversified media and information services company focused on creating and distributing authoritative and engaging content and other products and services.

Dow Jones. By Paul Bracken. To Read the Full Story. This brief survey demonstrates why Israel's military option against Iran's nuclear program is so unattractive, but also why failing to act is even worse. All these scenarios become infinitely more dangerous once Iran has deliverable nuclear weapons. So does daily life in Israel, elsewhere in the region and globally. Many argue that Israeli military action will cause Iranians to rally in support of the mullahs' regime and plunge the region into political chaos.

To the contrary, a strike accompanied by effective public diplomacy could well turn Iran's diverse population against an oppressive regime. Most of the Arab world's leaders would welcome Israel solving the Iran nuclear problem, although they certainly won't say so publicly and will rhetorically embrace Iran if Israel strikes. But rhetoric from its Arab neighbors is the only quantum of solace Iran will get.

On the other hand, the Obama administration's increased pressure on Israel concerning the "two-state solution" and West Bank settlements demonstrates Israel's growing distance from Washington.

Although there is no profit now in complaining that Israel should have struck during the Bush years, the missed opportunity is palpable. For the remainder of Mr.

Obama's term, uncertainty about his administration's support for Israel will continue to dog Israeli governments and complicate their calculations. Iran will see that as well, and play it for all it's worth.

This is yet another reason why Israel's risks and dilemmas, difficult as they are, only increase with time. Please add your comments to the Opinion Journal forum. All Rights Reserved. Skip to Main Content Skip to Search. News Corp is a global, diversified media and information services company focused on creating and distributing authoritative and engaging content and other products and services. Dow Jones. Opinion Read the Latest. By John R. Sponsored Offers.