The Call
It is the early fall of 2016. The so-called Iranian nuclear nonproliferation pact is diplomatic history, although accusations of clandestine Iranian noncompliance are rampant.
Then, on Oct. 12, 2016, the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, the collective fears of Israelis of once again facing mass extermination ignited. Four small nuclear weapons secreted in cars and trucks were detonated in strategic locations in Israel — one near Ashkelon, another in Neve Yaakov, and two in Tel Aviv. Two cars were stopped near Jerusalem before their cargo could be detonated, and the drivers were shot dead.
Early reports had the death count and injuries into the tens of thousands, and the likelihood that because of radiation levels vast parts of the land would be uninhabitable for generations to come.
Shortly after the attack took place, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (PM BN) initiated a call to President Obama (POTUS), a transcript of which was obtained through Israeli security channels. It is not a verbatim version of their exchange and, for purposes of brevity, leaves out certain more nuanced aspects of the dialogue.
POTUS: Mr. Prime Minister, before you say anything, on behalf of all Americans, I want to personally assure you that we stand with you during this horrendous time. Our nation will do everything possible to help your nation recover from this unthinkable attack.
PM BN: Mr. President, as we speak, our Air Force and Navy are preparing strikes against Iranian interests and other non-Iranian targets that assisted them in this attack.
POTUS: Are you contemplating a nuclear retaliation?
PM BN: I am not at liberty to say at this time, Mr. President.
POTUS: I must assume that you are contemplating this course of action, Bibi, and if so, I implore you to reconsider.
PM BN: Reconsider? Most respectfully, why?
POTUS: How can you be sure that these weapons were acquired through the Iranian network?
PM BN: We have been following the development of Iran’s nuclear program and we were aware that some of the smaller weapons they were working on were being passed off to terrorist networks through its Hezbollah affiliation.
POTUS: But, do you have irrefutable proof of this? What I’m saying is, why not take some time in ascertaining the exact source? We can take the lead on this for you and present the findings to the United Nations and bring the leaders to justice.
PM BN: We are not looking to have this horror wind up in some criminal court, Mr. President. Our nation is broken; it may, for all we know, be destroyed. We need to defend our people.
POTUS: But, Bibi, there is another direction you can take.
PM BN: What do you mean?
POTUS: You have already suffered a grievous loss to your people, to your land. I know the loss is unimaginable and I understand the impulse to retaliate, but think for a moment, what will be gained? It will destroy another civilization, perhaps hundreds of thousands of innocent people.
PM BN: We will not perish without a fight; we will not permit our extinction without being heard.
POTUS: But, let it be heard in a world tribunal, maybe the United Nations or the World Court.
PM BN: Mr. President, most respectfully, this conversation is tending toward the absurd. Our nation is under siege, we have suffered a deep, penetrating wound, perhaps a mortal one, and you are hectoring me about some justice initiative?
POTUS: Mr. Prime Minister, you have already suffered grievous loss. But what is to be gained by killing 10 times or more of the casualties that you have suffered today? Wouldn’t that be an act of pure retribution and vengeance?
PM BN: Our people will not stand for us to sit quietly by, as we have in the past. We also have to make sure that another attack doesn’t come.
POTUS: I give you my word; there will be no further attacks. We assure you of that. We will convene an emergency session at the United Nations so that your nation can be convinced of its continued safety.
PM BN: How can you say that, sir? Is this another red line of yours? You gave us your word that you had our back — that you would prevent Iran from developing nuclear capability. And so we let up on our guard because we thought that your words and assurances would be backed up.
POTUS: Listen, I don’t need to be lectured by you. Our foreign policy is and never will be based on anything other than our national interests — not the interests of any other country.
PM BN: Most respectfully, Mr. President, was your alignment with Iran really in the interests of your country? You know, Mr. President, before this conversation veered off, I was going to inform you that our security network has been reporting picking up sustained chatter about extending the attack to your country involving some small nuclear weapons being secreted on cargo ships headed toward your West Coast, or perhaps already there.
POTUS: I appreciate your heads up, Mr. Prime Minister, but we have carefully monitored our ports of entry and have turned up nothing. We are confident that a threat inside our borders is remote at this time.
PM BN: As you say, Mr. President, I was just trying to pass on some useful information that you might not already have.
POTUS: Look, thanks, but let’s try to get beyond these personal differences. Recrimination won’t help us now either. You must look ahead and see things through a different prism — that of starting over. And, we can help you.
PM BN: What in the world are you getting at, sir?
POTUS: Mr. Prime Minister, there are large, unoccupied swaths of land in the world for which resettlement arrangements could be facilitated. I can assure you that something like this could be fashioned with the cooperation of world leaders.
PM BN: Mr. President, that is utterly out of the question. Our existence is inextricably tied to our historic land. It is the land of our forefathers and of the prophets. We cannot have an identity in what you call a “swath of land” located somewhere on earth. In any event, Mr. President, I don’t want to take up any more of your valuable time. I just wanted to make sure that you understood our predicament and resolve and that our military was preparing a counterattack. And, as I indicated, I also wanted to make you aware of our latest intelligence for your benefit.
POTUS: Bibi, please reconsider; you can call this off.
PM BN: We will not, Mr. President. You should know that they will find ways to infiltrate your nation as well, I warn you.
POTUS: Mr. Prime Minister, as I just told you, our intelligence has been working around the clock and have found no such initiative here. You are trying to not only change the focus of our conversation but to frighten us as well. It won’t work. We would prefer that you not implement the course of action you are alluding to; it is in our national interest that nuclear proliferation not expand. Your intended strikes threaten those interests.
PM BN: Mr. President, I’m not sure I understand you. Are you threatening us? We are not asking for your help. I called you as a courtesy to provide you notice of our impending counterattack and to also provide you with a warning about a possible impending tragedy in your country.
POTUS: I cannot let you start the world down the path to a worldwide nuclear holocaust. You must stand down for the good of humanity.
PM BN: Mr. President, with all due respect, this sounds pathological. There is no peace. We didn’t start anyone on this path. We are victims.
POTUS: But, Bibi, as I told you, you have already suffered this crushing assault. Nothing further can happen to you. Your country is in ruin. Your attack now is one of pure retribution. Let us help you recover.
PM BN: With all due respect, Mr. President, we cannot agree with your position. We are not asking for your support or help. We can only depend on ourselves. Remember what is written in the Ethics of the Fathers, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me?” That is all I have to say. Good night, Mr. President.
POTUS: Bibi, please. Listen. Don’t underestimate our resolve to keep the world from descending into an abyss. Don’t test me.
PM BN: You mean to say that you finally may start a military option and we are your target?
POTUS: You heard what I said, don’t test me.
PM BN: Test you? Test you? This is not personal to you, Mr. President. This is about Israel, about Jewish people everywhere. We were unable to protect Jews in Europe from the scourge of the Holocaust. We can protect ourselves now.
POTUS: Don’t do this, Mr. Prime Minister. Don’t go there. Uh, wait a minute — hold on. I’m being alerted to an emergency call that I must take. I have to go.
Click.
David B. Saxe divides his time between New York City and North Haven.