Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz told reporters that the army is “allocating resources to strengthen our capabilities in the face of the challenges in the region, especially Iran.”

His comments came shortly after PM Naftali Bennett’s meeting with US President Joe Biden, in which Iran’s nuclear program formed a central talking point.

Biden ensured his ally that his country is committed to “ensuring” that Iran could never develop nuclear weapons, adding:

“If diplomacy fails, we’re ready to turn to other options.”

Time for a plan B?

The prospects of reviving the nuclear deal, i.e. the JCPOA, are not looking great currently, as the US and its European allies have completely renegaded on their part of the agreement. No goodwill has been displayed towards Iran, raising the latter’s reluctance to rejoin.

In this framework, “Israel” is worried about Iran fully developing its nuclear capabilities, despite the Republic’s vow never to develop a nuclear bomb.

“Israel” has now moved to CENTCOM’s area of responsibility allowing it to further share intelligence with the US, leading Gantz to consider “working to define what Plan B is” in case the deal fails.

Furthermore, Aviv Kohavi, the Israeli Forces Chief of Staff, told reporters last week that the military is hastening its operational plans against Iran.

“Israel’s” official stance towards the nuclear program is growing in hostility, considering it as its number one concern, going as far as allocating $1.09 billion of its security budget to focus on this matter. 

Much ado about Lebanon and Palestine

Gantz also spoke about the threat of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as well as the Gaza Strip, viewing both as a major challenge, “We are preparing for conflict in the northern arena as well as for a situation where we are fighting on two fronts in the North and South.”

Earlier this month, Hezbollah fired a barrage of 20 rockets towards the occupied lands after an Israeli airstrike targeted a region in the Lebanese south.

The Security Minister additionally confessed that he “cannot guarantee” avoiding another fighting round with Gaza notably as the besieged strip showcased massive retaliatory and combative capabilities during the “Seif al-Quds” Battle last May.

Since then, dozens of incendiary balloons have been launched towards southern parts of the occupied lands, exposing severe weaknesses in the occupation’s defensive capabilities as well as its distrust of its own military might.