Evening Update: "Israel Alone", "Brotherhood Turning Middle East Into Islamic Bloc"

Exactly as we would expect and exactly as biblical prophecy would dictate:

Former Ambassador: Israel Alone Again, As Usual

Israelis need to get used to the idea that they are alone when it comes to dealing with Iran – and that they should not expect that the U.S. will fight Israel's battles for it. In an interview with Arutz Sheva, former Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Zalman Shoval said that Israeli and U.S. interests diverged when it came to Iran. “We need to get used to the fact that, as usual, we are alone,” he said.

The current situation, he said, was reminiscent of the situation before the Six Day War, when Israel received no support from the U.S. – and indeed, was told point-blank by the Johnson administration that if Israel took the initiative and actively attacked Egypt, it would have to suffer the consequences itself, despite the fact that Egypt committed an act of war by closing off the Straits of Tiran.

Eventually the U.S. will act, he said – but by the time the U.S. is ready to move, it may be too late. “The U.S. wants to put off the confrontation for a year or two, but every delay gives the Iranians another advantage,” Shoval said.

"Brotherhood Turning Middle East Into Islamic Bloc"

The Middle East is on the path to becoming a single Islamist bloc run by the Muslim Brotherhood, Home front Command Minister and former Shin Bet Chief Avi Dichter said Monday.

Speaking at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism's World Summit, Dichter said "the Arab world in general and in particular the countries neighboring us have begun a long journey that will end with the Middle East being a bloc run by the Muslim Brotherhood, and possibly a single Islamist bloc."

Closer to home, Hezbollah has between 60 and 70 thousand rockets aimed at Israel, Defense Ministry Diplomatic-Security chief Amos Gilad said Monday, speaking at the same conference as Dichter.

Gilad said the Lebanese terrorist organization has stockpiled rockets of various types, and its arsenal is far more robust than the one it had prior to the Second Lebanon War. "The next war will be aimed against the home front," Gilad warned.

Israel, U.S. Spar Over "Red Lines" For Iran

Israel and the United States sparred on Monday over remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about setting “red lines” for Iran regarding its nuclear program.

Israel was not thrilled with Clinton’s remarks that the Obama administration has no “deadline” for Iran.

In response, a senior official in Jerusalem said, “Without a clear and firm red line, Iran will not stop its nuclear arms race. Such statements do not stop the Iranian centrifuges, but vice versa. Such statements not only do not deter Iran, they calm it down.”

Israel Hits Back At Clinton, Says Refusal To Set Red Lines Will "Calm Iran"

Official Jerusalem struck back at the US Monday for saying it would not set clear red lines beyond which it would support a military attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“Words like these won’t stop the centrifuges, but the opposite,” an unnamed source told Ynet news.

On Sunday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rebuffed calls by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to set clear red lines and calm Israeli fears.

Asked if the Obama administration will lay out sharper “red lines” for Iran or state explicitly the consequences for Tehran of its failing to negotiate a deal with world powers over its nuclear program by a certain date, Clinton told Bloomberg, “We’re not setting deadlines.”

On Monday, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland reiterated Clinton’s statement, saying setting red lines was “not useful.”

The possibility of the US announcing its “red lines” on Iran had appeared to be playing a role in calming tensions in the last few days between Israel and the US, which have been publicly at odds in recent weeks over how best to halt the Islamic republic’s nuclear drive.

Peres Warns That "Time Is Limited" On Tackling Iran By Non-Military Means

President Shimon Peres said on Monday that if Iran is not stopped from developing a nuclear weapon by non-military means, there will be no option except the use of force, and that “time is limited.”

“I appreciate the position of the US, which is trying to organize a coalition of nations to use different measures, if possible without the use of military arms [to stop Iran],” said Peres. “But if they won’t be stopped, we shall have to submit to the use of force.”