Playing the long game (copy)

The idea of allowing such an attack to go unchecked sends the wrong message to Iran, as well as other terrorist countries. However, the combined response to the Iranian attack — including the assistance of other Middle East countries, opens a door for a measured response that focuses on uniting allies against Iran to combat future aggression.

Ideally, a tempered response that only targets war- or terror-related facilities, such as munition factories or storage bunkers, could send a clear message without putting civilians at too grave of risk.

Chuck Freilich is a former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council and a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. He told the Post:

“This is an opportunity to create a new American-led regional security alignment against Iran if we can take advantage of it. Who would ever have thought that we would be part of a coalition that included the U.K. and France and Jordan and maybe other Arab countries?”

Other former Israeli officials likewise see the benefit of looking at the long-term potential of an alliance instead of the short-term satisfaction gained by a more powerful response.

Former Israeli Defense Force Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golen told the Post that while Iran’s strike escalated the war with Israel, it is one that has been fought out over the years.

“On different levels of intensity, Israel has been fighting Iran for years,” he said. “It will not stop tomorrow or the next day. And it will not stop if Israel reacts right now.”

“...We cannot be confused here. Iran has escalated the war,” he said. “But Israel needs to act smartly in order to strengthen the regional and global front against them.”

We hope Israel considers those options carefully before deciding when and where to strike at Iran.

While the U.S. and other allies are right to encourage restraint, it is wrong to harness Israel’s — or any allies’ — potential response when directly attacked.

Still, Israel must realize the tremendous strength in numbers gained by the support of allied countries in keeping Iran in check long term. Either approach has its dangers, but one is much more calculated for long-term success.