Ehud to Mahmoud: we need to talk

Despite heated rhetoric around the globe, along with Ehud Olmert's recent veiled threats that Israel would "not rule out" using the A-bomb, reports published today reveal that most Israeli leaders prefer to keep the nuclear option in their back pocket, and would go for diplomatic dialogue with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran over a tactical military strike against his nuclear facilities. The telling phrase is that Israel "lacks enthusiasm" for unleashing its weapons at this juncture.
This sane approach to dealing with the region's "existential threat" is heartening, particularly since Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's ultra-right Minister for for Strategic Affairs, is ratcheting up nasty talk with representatives of the American Jewish Council. Today he accused European technocrats of being ready to "sacrifice" the Jewish nation in order to preserve economic ties with Iran.
"There are elements in Europe that are ready to sacrifice Israel on the alter of their security, of their trade contracts" with Iran, snarled Lieberman.
Meanwhile, Olmert is under threat of losing his job over his botched handling of the so-called "Northern Operation",
the summer war against Lebanon. Analysts say he is not about to embark on another military venture without exploring all alternatives first.