Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his top deputies have not formally asked for United States permission to strike Iran's nuclear program or aid for such an attack, fearing the White House would not approve, according to two Israeli officials cited Tuesday by the Washington Times.
One senior Israeli official told the newspaper that Netanyahu determined that "it made no sense" to press the matter after the negative response President Bush gave former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, when he asked early last year for U.S. aid for such a strike. Israel would likely have to fly over Iraqi airspace, which is still effectively controlled by the U.S. Air Force. Earlier this week, Israel and Saudi Arabia both denied reports by Britain's Sunday Times that the Saudis would not object to Israel flying over its airspace.
Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. refused during an appearance Sunday on ABC's This Week to say whether the U.S. would give Israel overflight rights for such an attack, but said it was Israel's "sovereign right" to attack Iran if it considers the Iranian nuclear program an existential threat.