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IsraelWire
- As the unrest continues in Israel, the eyes of the Western
community are once again focused on the actions of Iraqi
dictator Saddam Hussein.
Israel
and the United States are carefully monitoring Iraqi troop
movements on the Iraqi border with Jordan and Syria. A senior
member of Israel’s intelligence community confirmed
this on Tuesday. The unnamed senior intelligence official
acknowledged that recent Iraqi troop movements may be harmless,
but quickly added that during the Gulf War, we saw what
the Iraqi troops did to Kuwait, adding that the Iraqi force
could easily pass through Jordan to Israel as well. IDF
intelligence reports indicate the Saddam may send combat
aircraft over heavy population centers, even before advancing
ground forces. It is not expected that he would try launching
Scud missiles. It remains uncertain if he has Scuds that
remain operational, and launching of Scuds would also be
testimony that Saddam lied to UNSCOM inspectors.
According
to a report in the daily Yediot Ahronot, over past days,
Israel has been in close contract with the White House;
in an effort to thwart any Iraqi plans to perpetrate an
attack against Israel. Israel and the US have sent warnings
to Hussein via intermediaries, stating that any involvement
in the current crisis between Israel and the PLO Authority
(PA) would result in a firm US military response.
In contacts
between Israel and European allies, Israel has explained
that Saddam Hussein may attempt to take advantage of the
ongoing crisis and provoke a regional crisis involving Arab
nations against Israel. Israeli sources reminded international
allies that whenever a crisis develops involving Israel
and the PA, we are reminded of the good relations between
Yassir Arafat and Saddam Hussein. Arafat was among the few
who publicly supported Saddam Hussein after he opted to
invade Kuwait.
There
are also intelligence reports that Jordan and Saudi Arabia
are “very concerned” over Iraqi troop movements,
with Israeli intelligence experts explaining the Hashemite
Kingdom is “between a rock and a hard place”.
Spokesperson Nachman Shai stated on Tuesday, “Iraq
is an unpredictable nation. When Iraq exhibits signs of
nervousness, we too have reason to be concerned. Iraqi forces
are relatively far from Jordan but when the Middle East
ball begins to roll, no one knows where it will stop.”
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