TEL AVIV: The rapidly escalating military conflict between Israel and Iran represents a clash of ambitions. Iran seeks to become a nuclear power, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu longs to be remembered as the Israeli leader who categorically thwarted Iran’s nuclear programme, which he views as an existential threat to Israel’s survival.

Both dreams are as misguided as they are dangerous.

Iran’s nuclear ambitions have always been driven primarily by the goal of securing the regime’s survival, not annihilating Israel, which is far more likely to be destroyed at the end of a long war of attrition than under a mushroom cloud.

But Israel cannot afford to treat Iran’s threats of nuclear Armageddon as mere bloviating, particula...