Arguments that Israel must act against the threat of nuclear progress in Iran are a diversion from where Israel must act to promote its own people and save them from the oppression they live under at the ands of the oligarchy that has control of the country. Recommendations at breaking up these controlling trusts have been submitted to the government with the full support of respected Israeli economists and bankers like Dror Strum, a former director of the Israeli competition authority and Stanley Fisher, Governor of the Bank of Israel.
The present threats against Iran concerning supposed efforts by that nation to produce nuclear weapons are not constructive. The idea that Israel or the USA will attack Iran and destroy some facilities can only lead to more conflict and deaths in the region. In general this is a strategy by Netanyahu and the Israeli war party to distract Israelis from the crucial economic problems Israel has and the increasing number of criminal convictions and indictments against his supporters. If we seek peace through respect and law then we might be able to defuse the situation and move toward a resolution in the area. By not signing the Non-Proliferation Treaty and not allowing inspections by the IAEA Israel strengthens Iran's position since Iran has allowed inspections. What is to be gained by Israel's position? What is the real danger of Iran's nuclear capacity? We know more about it than we do of Israel's. One can understand the reluctance of India and Pakistan as they are in an arms race and have a frozen line of conflict in Khasmir.
The first problem is the inability to produce reliable reports on facilities. Israel and the USA claim that Iran has secret facilities when illegal nuclear production is taking place. Iran claims it is being unfairly discriminated against, that its work is entirely peacefully oriented and the IAEA has inspected many of its facilities. It questions why it is being pressured when Israel refuses to sign the non-proliferation treaty (http://en.wikipedia.org/.... along with India and Pakistan) and why they Israel is not being pressured to allow for IAEA inspections of its facilities.
The IAEA does not have inspection authority in Israel.
"ELBARADEI: First of all, I should like to point out that there is a lot of confusion about the IAEA’s authority with regard to Israel. The Agency has no inspection authority in Israel, except with regard to a small research reactor. As is the case with India, Pakistan and the five nuclear States, we have no legal authority to perform inspections in Israel. I agree that the Israeli military nuclear programme is a cause of great concern in the Middle East and in the world as a whole. For over thirty years, Israel has been urged to join the nuclear non-proliferation regime. We must understand, however, that the nuclear non-proliferation regime is a voluntary regime. Israel, India and Pakistan have not acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. As Director General and as an international civil servant, my authority with regard to these States is basically moral and political, rather than legal."
(from the IAEA transcript: http://www.iaea.org/....)
Israel's main labor union held a general strike recently, shutting airports, government offices, the stock exchange and parts of some hospitals due to treatment of nonunion contract workers. Netanyahu's sabre rattling is an effort to distract the people of Israel from his domestic crises (http://www.dailykos.com/....). The same is true of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran whose internal political and economic problems are mounting (http://www.cnn.com/....). Both these demagogs are not only endangering their own people but are driving the world to a regional war that will derail democracy in the area.
The problems with inequality, housing and employment in Israel has generated massive demonstrations in recent months. Israel certainly faces many challenges, but the most threatening is from within. Citing a study of 34 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation for Economic Development (ECED) the publication Jewish World (http://sdjewishworld.wordpress.com/....) notes that the level of poverty in Israel today is greater than in Mexico. What is more troubling is a study of ECED nations that found After Turkey and Israel only Mexico have more young people between the age of 15 and 29 years of age who are not working or studying. This waste of human potential is shameful but is a consequence of the inequality and corruption that plague these nations. For Israel the situation is a dire as in Mexico where conditions are similar with crime syndicates battling for control of drug and prostitution turf and the markets for guns from America while the control of the economy is not so concentrated as in Israel, the political situation is paralyzed by the constant feeling of violence and uncertainty, as in Israel (see: http://www.dailykos.com/....).
The only way out of this vector of social stagnation for Israelis is to vote out of office all the members of the present parties and vote in new people who are not influenced by the money and threats of the oligarchs and crime families. This is a large order, certainly given America's election laws (the most recent Supreme Court decision allows unlimited contributions), would make such an effort near impossible, but an organized campaign for clean elections where contributions would be an issue could make a difference in a road to an open economy and greater opportunity.
Recommendations to breakup the monopolies that control Israel's economy and stifle opportunity have been presented to the government. The Financial Times reported on this week in an article by Tobias Buck ("Israel eyes break-up of tycoon's holdings" Feb. 23rd. 2012) such a move would go far to produce a more democratic nation. However, it seems that the present government is using the situation with Iran as a smokescreen to avoid dealing with its own problems.