Nuclear-armed Iran would destabilize the Middle East. Some countries fear Iran as much as Israel does--perhaps more, since they lack the military means to stop Iran. If Iran goes nuclear, so will Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and perhaps Syria. It has been widely reported that Saudi Arabia has been privately encouraging Israel to act, even offering some support.

The UN report that finally confirms Iran's nuclear activites could be viewed as a go-ahead for a preventive attack. But by whom? If the US attacks, Iran, which lacks the ability to strike directly at the US, will retaliate against Israel, possibly causing a major war. Knowing that, Israel might attack--but Israel would need guarantees of major diplomatic and possibly miitary support from the US.

BUT: US/Israel relations are at a near-alltime low--and got lower after the media reported on Obama's and Sarkozy's criticism of Netanyahu. Obama, who has said he doesn't want sanctions against Iran's central bank for fear of higher oil prices, isn't going to declare that any retaliatory attack on Israel by Iran would constitute an attack on the US. Very dangerous situation--not only for Israel and the entire Middle East, but for the world.