New leaked transcripts of Israeli deliberations during 12-day war on Iran confirms there was no imminent threat, pulling in Trump was central, and targeting Iranian civilians and infrastructure was and remains an Israeli objective.
There was no imminent threat:
Netanyahu said at the meeting’s outset: “We are at a historic moment with a crucial decision. If we don’t stop [them], within a few years, they will get tens of thousands of kilograms of [nuclear] explosives.
Dragging the U.S. into war was central to plan:
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said, “Everything can be done very fast. If the US cooperates with us, we can make the hit within 48 hours.”
“Fordo will be destroyed only if the US attacks it,” said senior military official.
Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer said in the meeting that while speaking on the phone with Trump, Netanyahu had “pushed and maneuvered” Trump to make a decision on sending refueling planes to assist the Israeli strikes.
Israel only refrained from mass targeting of civilians because they wanted US to take out Fordo before collapsing the country:
Katz argued that “relocating the population is practical and symbolic. We should strike civilian national infrastructure that destabilizes the leader.”
“There are military targets in Tehran amid the population.”
“If [Iran] targets power stations, we won’t have a dilemma. We’ll attack civil infrastructure now, even though they are targets we want to keep for later,” he said.
Dermer disagreed, however, saying that “If we attack civilian infrastructure now, it could end the war before we achieve our objectives and before an attack on Fordo.
Mike