The British daily The Times reported Thursday that Israel and Western leaders may be working on a deal to give international support for an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities in exchange for concessions in peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority (PA). The agreement could allow for an Israeli attack "within the year", according to a British official quoted in the report.

Unnamed diplomats were quoted by the paper as saying that Israel was prepared to offer concessions on the formation of a PA state, its settlement policy and on "issues" with Arab neighbors in exchange for international backing of the operation. "Israel has chosen to place the Iranian threat over its settlements," on senior European diplomat said. According to the report, the passage of two Sa'ar 5-class Israeli Navy ships through the Suez Canal on Tuesday was a message to Iran and a part of preparations being made by Israel for the possibility of a strike.