Moshe Dann: Ariel Sharon and the Rise of Iran’s Nuclear Threat

Moshe Dann is a PhD historian, writer and journalist living in Israel.

On December 18, 2009, Aluf Benn and Amos Harel, writing in Haaretz, offered one of the most important insights into Israeli policy regarding the Iranian nuclear threat.

“When Netanyahu was finance minister in Ariel Sharon’s cabinet, he urged Sharon to focus on the struggle against Iran. When Netanyahu resigned over the disengagement plan, and Sharon left Likud and established Kadima, Netanyahu told Sharon that if he acted against Iran before the election, Netanyahu would support him. Sharon did not act.” (Neither did Netanyahu – MD).

“The uranium conversion plant in Isfahan has an important function in the chain of Iran’s nuclear program. It first went into operation in 2004... [and] since 2004, hundreds of kilograms... were sent to the enrichment plant in Natanz [stored in] underground tunnels.”...

In hindsight, the decision not to bomb the Iranian facility was a gigantic mistake that changed the course of history....