Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday he does not favour a pre-emptive strike on Iran before Israel’s 27 October election, but warned Iran and its proxies against attacking Israel.
“It is not convenient for us, it’s no good,” he told Israel’s Army Radio when asked about the possibility and about claims by political rivals that he wants a military confrontation before the vote. He said Israel would respond forcefully if attacked.
Netanyahu declined to say whether a strike was possible after the election, or to discuss his recent talks with Washington on Iran. He also said Iran’s proxies wanted to attack Israel before the vote.
Separately, Defence Minister Israel Katz, speaking from the security zone Israeli forces occupy in southern Lebanon, warned the Iran-backed group Hezbollah against attacking Israel. He said the Nabatieh and Litani regions would become part of a permanent security zone.
The United States and Iran have been at war since 28 February, when the US and Israel attacked Iran. Israel and Iran have not traded fire since June.
The conflict matters to Sri Lankan readers because of its effect on fuel prices and on the many Sri Lankans who work in the Middle East.
