Israel to “Accelerate” Covert Action Against Iran, Black Budget “Earmarked”: IDF Chief

• Israel to “Accelerate” Covert Action Against Iran, Black Budget “Earmarked”: IDF Chief
  by AlMasdarNews.com, via https://www.zerohedge.com/
  Just on the heels of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s remarks to The New York Times this week wherein he openly acknowledged plans to continue covert attacks on Iran, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi, has followed with his own threat.
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  “The progress of the Iranian nuclear program has led the IDF to accelerate its operational plans and the recently approved defense budget is earmarked for that,” Kohavi said according to a Jerusalem Post report published Wednesday.
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  The IDF chief weighing in to confirm Bennet’s words reveal that the Israeli PM’s comments to the Times this week were not mere political rhetoric or mere posturing. “Kohavi has made it clear that he views the JCPOA as dangerous, saying publicly that he has directed the IDF to prepare fresh operational plans to strike Iran to stop its nuclear program if necessary,” Jerusalem Post continues.
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  PM Bennett and his top General Kohavi now openly declaring Israel’s intent to step up covert sabotage and espionage attacks against the Iranians is somewhat unprecedented, given that in prior years it remained Israel’s policy to not comment on clandestine intelligence operations. It remains rare if not unheard of for any country to publicly announce plans for covert aggression against sovereign states.
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  Ahead of his expected visit to the White House to meet with President Biden which was originally planned for Thursday, but delayed to Friday due to the blasts at Kabul airport which killed American soldiers and many more Afghan civilians, PM Bennett spoke of plans for “clandestine attacks” and espionage targeting the Islamic Republic and its nuclear program. He also made reference to what he called “the gray-area stuff”.
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  This new approach of brazenly declaring intent to mount “gray-area” attacks appears directed not just at Tehran, but toward putting pressure on the Biden administration to halt its pursuit of a restored Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal.
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