Yoav Zitun: Why Israel must give up already

Veteran Ynet reporter Yoav Zitun, likely with the agreement of senior IDF leaders, published a tweet on X explaining how Israel's operational gains are limited and it should now rush to have America secure a deal.

"Last night, after deliberation, it was permitted to publish - Israel does not have the capability to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities

"The political echelon knew this and set out with a reasonable conception, but one that the public must be aware of: a "package" that includes striking nuclear facilities, dismantling Iranian air defenses in a way that allows Israeli fighter jets to circle over Tehran as if they were over Jabaliya, reducing the ballistic missile threat, eliminating Iran's security leadership and a credible threat to also behead the regime leaders and ayatollahs alongside possible strikes on national infrastructure like oil reserves - might be sufficient.

"Sufficient for what? To return Iran to negotiations from a position of weakness that will force it to sign an agreement without expiration dates and with teeth - and if not, then at least to delay the nuclear project by several years.

"Destroying Iran's nuclear program is indeed militarily possible, under two conditions: American participation in the attack with the massive bunker-buster bombs that only the US has and only it can use, which obviously depends on Trump's decision - or a long "peeling" operation by air force aircraft of the nuclear facilities' defenses.

"The second option could lead to a scenario that the IDF leadership began discussing and preparing for yesterday: a long war of attrition with Iran, lasting months, perhaps beyond that; dripping missiles and drones, intermittent siege on Ben Gurion Airport, disruption (between interference and paralysis) of the economy and education system, and more.

"Therefore, alongside the euphoria from the powerful opening blow and the justification for the move that senior IDF officials share - a closure mechanism must be demanded, the political deed or at least demand striving toward it. Iran has always excelled in multi-generational patience - lowering the flames and years of attrition with time-stretching are a victory for it.

"Iran has many hundreds more missiles of the type that created destruction sites here in recent days with warheads of 200-500 kg explosives, but according to various sources, including experts in the field - Iran has not yet used the Khamenei which carries between one to two tons of explosive material in its warhead and with 20% more blast effect than the missiles fired so far; Iran's cruise missiles, which are difficult to detect in good time, have also not yet been launched. This multi-stage move, successful as it may be, also has force limitations, even for the large and strong air force and for military intelligence and the Mossad. In the end, the number of aircraft is an existing given against 5000-10000 relevant targets spread across Iran. And the prices will be several times heavier than war with Hamas. Therefore, the political ending is a necessity that there is no choice but to demand and expect, before the next casualties, and within the foreseeable future.

"Why Iran would agree to any deal if it has so many cards to play and is at such a strategic advantage will remain forever a great mystery."