Strike or Sanctions?

" Its president has repeatedly voiced his desire to see Israel wiped clean off the map. Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -- man who was also said his country would never give in to foreign pressure to abandon its nuclear program. In the last 24 hours -- so there have been some remarkable developments concerning that very same program. Today we're told Iranian diplomats say they're open to the idea of moving most of Iran's enriched uranium out of the country. Second the same diplomats have reportedly agreed to a timeframe for allowing inspectors to visit a recently revealed uranium enrichment side. Whether or not any of this comes to pass will room will remain to be seen but the United States and other nations say it is at the very least. Cause for guarded optimism. But for the Israelis optimism may not be enough. As you may know Israel is within striking distance of Iranian missiles and even the possibility of a nuclear armed Iran has folks and Israel very nervous. Pulitzer prize winning journalist formerly with the New York Times now Fox News contributor. Judith Miller live with us in Tel Aviv -- it's great to see you -- is Israel on this matter and -- we know how they may be thinking -- back."

" I think it's going to be very very hard to know exactly what Israel is planning on thinking because this issue is so important to Israeli national security. Israeli officials are playing this one very close to the best. And they are saying almost nothing. Publicly about the American policy except that experts here unnamed experts in what one sees in the press and hears from the analysts. Is that. Well we're off to a good start for -- first meeting in other words you're hearing that a roughly similar reaction to what we're hearing from Washington."

" Is there a belief there. That this is or has the potential at least to be another stalling tactic which would not be in Israel's interest."

" That is always a concern and in fact that critics both here in Israel and in Washington arguing the same thing. Which is that Iran is going to use these toxic as they often have in the past used -- occasions like this to. We're you know pushed the press the pressure away from them to -- legitimacy through its presence at the table with the United States and all of its allies and to reduce the possibility of sanctions. That's why everyone is very keen on making sure that this set of talks move forward that there be no stalling. And that the issues. That the men had -- the administration is calling for the Obama administration. Is well understood Iranians and that they are not permitted to delay and postponed as they have in the past."

" Tell us about the debate within the Israeli government and its military we can go back to its war. In south 119 to see how divided they can't be on ways to move and it's widely believed now. That they just screwed that thing up from the very beginning and kept changing their minds almost daily. What is this -- now about how well they may end up on one page together."

" Well who while they were in the middle of that -- very little was said. The time about a lack of unity it was only after the crisis had passed that people."

" But we knew then what happened we knew and everything as -- senior policy changing every day. As reporters on the ground it was 100 it's like being in New Orleans and then telling you that they help is there and it's not. It's the same thing that happened is so they changed the policy and everyone."

" This isn't. That this is. This isn't very different game this is what a game in which Israel let's not play Israel -- not at the table. And Israel must rely on the American strategy while it keep its other options open. I think -- what one hears much more from you know that the technical people is that that other option is there and when Israel talks about the other option. There and they are not talking Mississippi about sanctions they're talking about military. Activity but you have to remember. This is such a hard target and I think Israel has no illusions about how difficult it would be to strike. Iran militarily. But couldn't facility the one that Iran he and until it was forced to make it public is buried deep under the ground and remember there are no centrifuges and now which is another factor that leads some Israelis to say we have some time -- But also you're talking about a national Iranian program is diffused throughout the country. And it's one that has back up and backup systems to support it. This is not what Israel did in Iraq if it had to take military action this time it is not the strike it made against Syria. Israelis' more than anyone else understand that they would probably pay the consequences of such -- strike so this is a very difficult call. The Israelis and at the moment when get the sense that they're willing to give the Americans some amount of time to see how this plays out."

" It you know the way you just described it and and those are the facts it is spread out and strike. There is no quick strike is it's done once before. That there's no Lawler nothing here it sounds almost as if well -- sanctions and agreement. Or. Really nothing I mean there's there's not a lot that could be done."

" I -- I you know. I do not think that fat. Is true don't even though from a practical standpoint I'm wonders how they would possibly carry it out when Israel feels that something is in its national interest we've seen before that they're perfectly willing to act to carrying out. At the moment. Their -- they seem to be letting the Obama administration. And its allies tried the diplomatic card but nothing is off the table and I think from the Israelis. On this one it's going to be very hard to know what Bibi Netanyahu. And his cabinet is really thinking about because they have absolutely no interest in sharing that with any of us at this time. -- strongest card is making sure that Iran does not know what Israel is thinking."

" Judith Miller live and I newsroom in Tel Aviv Judith it's good to see you thanks very much."