Israel's war cabinet is embroiled in a heated debate over how and when to respond to Iran's weekend attack, they told CNN two Israeli sources familiar with the deliberations.
The cabinet remains determined to respond to the Iranian attack, but as it meets this Monday (15), its members continue to debate the timing and scope of such a response, officials said.
In addition to a potential military response, the cabinet is also evaluating diplomatic options to further isolate Iran on the world stage.
Benny Gantz, a senior cabinet member, pushed for a faster response to Iran's attack, two Israeli officials said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far hit the brakes on making a decision. Gantz believes that the longer Israel delays its response to Iran's attack, the more difficult it will be to garner international support for such an attack, one of the sources said.
Many countries have warned Israel against worsening the situation with a military response.
The local government is aware that the country currently benefits from international support and the goodwill of its allies and does not want to waste this.
At the same time, the government recognizes that it cannot allow Iran's first attack on Israeli soil to go unanswered.
Among the military options considered, the cabinet is considering an attack on an Iranian facility that would send a message but avoid causing casualties, an Israeli official said.
However, Israeli authorities recognize that this will be a difficult task, hence the ongoing debate. The timing of a decision remains uncertain.
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Source: CNN Brasil
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