Iran debate on front burner in Israel

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REPORTING FROM JERUSALEM -- Suddenly, an issue Israelis usually discuss behind closed doors is everywhere: a public debate over whether there should be a public debate about an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Israel’s news cycle is very fast-paced, and so dynamic it’s practically interactive. These days, reports on Iran are coming with dizzying speed. Here are just a few going on in advance of next week’s update on Iran’s nuclear activities by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to convince the Cabinet to support an attack on Iran. The army held a drill simulating missile attacks on central Israel. Yes to an attack on Iran. No to an attack on Iran. President Obama says pressure on Iran must be maintained. NATO says it won’t intervene. Reports from Britain speak of contingency plans to support a U.S. strike while urging the world to negotiate with Iran before something bad happens. Israeli sources tell a Kuwaiti paper that Netanyahu has ordered an investigation into the leak of an alleged strike plan. The Israeli army releases reports of the air force training in Sardinia, then it says the exercises could be canceled over the leak.

Confused? That may be why Israelis are evenly split on whether to attack Iran, according to this poll.

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-- Batsheva Sobelman