Former Israeli Defense Minister Discusses Pre‑2010 Plans for a Surgical Strike on Iran’s Nuclear Program

Former Israeli Defense Minister Discusses Pre‑2010 Plans for a Surgical Strike on Iran’s Nuclear Program The passage provides a first‑hand account from a senior Israeli official (former Defense Minister under Olmert and Bibi) describing internal deliberations, operational readiness, and coordination with the U.S. regarding a potential pre‑emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. It names specific actors (Bibi, Lieberman, Obama administration) and outlines timelines and capabilities, offering concrete leads for further investigation into undisclosed military planning, possible procurement of heavy bombs and tanker aircraft, and diplomatic overtures for U.S. legitimacy. While not revealing new classified documents, it adds detail to known debates and could prompt inquiries into procurement contracts, intelligence sharing, and decision‑making processes. Key insights: Former Defense Minister claims Israel had a viable operational plan for a strike by mid‑2010.; Mentions procurement of Israeli‑produced heavy bombs and tanker aircraft to enable the strike.; States that both Prime Minister (Bibi) and Foreign Minister Lieberman were involved in the decision‑making process.