Article: Israel And The Last Days
 

Former MK Tzachi Hanegbi, considered a close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, tells Likud conference he believes a decision on Iran will be made within the next 50 days. Former Likud and Kadima member Tzachi Hanegbi said this week that he believed the fate of Israel's conflict with Iran will be decided within the next 50 days. Hanegbi, who is considered a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, later told Israel Hayom the assessment was his own and not based on specific information disclosed to him. "We are entering the most fateful 50 days Israel has faced since, perhaps, the similarly fateful days prior to the Yom Kippur War," Hanegbi said at a Likud conference this week, as quoted by the Makor Rishon newspaper. At the same conference, Hanegbi explained that any decision that will be made on whether or not to attack Iran would have to be "taken by someone with foresight, with historical vision, who comes from an ideological home. Today, when we talk about how we understand the dangers of the Iranian threat and understand that confrontation comes at a cost, it is because we want to spare our sons and grandsons from having to pay an intolerable price." In an interview with Israel Hayom on Thursday, the former minister said that "the remarks I made were my interpretation of statements and analyses made by others in the media. They were not based on a conversation I had with the prime minister. Netanyahu does not consult with me on these issues and I am not, by definition of my position, privy to such information." "I do have my own interpretation though, and I have no doubt that these are fateful days. Even a decision not to do anything [about Iran] is a fateful decision. I have no doubt that there will be a price to pay for any decision or indecision," Hanegbi said. Reiterating Russia's opposition to a military strike on Iran, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday "We want to warn those who are no strangers to military solutions that an attack will lead to great damage and will be catastrophic to the region's stability. It will also affect the security and economic welfare of the entire world. The act will have repercussions far beyond the Middle East."