Iran Could Soon Be Nuclear Threshold State, INSS Warns

Israel faces three main dangers in the upcoming year, the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) said in its annual strategic assessment that was presented to President Yitzchak Herzog this week.

These include the Iran nuclear program, the threat of deterioration in Israel-U.S. ties, and the risk of a flare-up in the Palestinian arena.

The report warned that if the Iranian weapons program is not limited by a deal and a military threat, Iran would soon become a nuclear threshold state. It stressed the importance of cooperation between Yerushalayim and Washington on the matter.

In addition, it called for operational preparations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to a recent report, the terror group has built over 20 observation and guard posts along the Israel-Lebanon border over the past year, despite the fact that according to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War, it is forbidden from operating near the frontier.

As for the Palestinian arena, the report warned that Israel was approaching the “perfect storm” given the growing unrest in the region and the increased danger of a violent uprising.

It also stressed that the continued existence of the Palestinian Authority was in Israel’s interest and emphasized the importance of maintaining ties with its officials as the era of current PA leader Mahmoud Abbas nears its end.

Herzog responded, “We are in a particularly dangerous time of crisis and internal conflict, and we have the ability to deal with the situation and contain the deepest differences of opinion without giving up on our beliefs. Bridging the gaps, including the political divides, is perhaps the most important step in preserving the State of Israel’s security, stability, and prosperity.”