Noam Weissman:
Hey everyone, it’s Noam. As many of you know, I host two podcasts here at Unpacked. On Unpacking Israeli History, we dive deep into Israel’s rich and complex past—we explore the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the inspirational, and the difficult. And on Wondering Jews, which I co-host with Mijal Bitton, we reflect on big questions and big ideas about Jewish thought, Jewish life, and the Jewish state.
Today, we’re releasing this episode to all our listeners on both Unpacking Israeli History and Wondering Jews, because it’s just that important.
In this episode, I’m going to ask some big questions about what just happened between Israel and Iran. As the news unfolds—literally as we speak—we’re going to look back at history to help us understand this complex, fascinating, and, frankly, frightening moment.
What did Israel just strike in Iran? What does it mean? What message was sent—and what comes next?
To help us understand, I’m joined by Yaakov Katz. Yaakov is a longtime military reporter, the former Editor-in-Chief of The Jerusalem Post, and the author of Shadow Strike, which tells the story of Israel’s 2007 bombing of Syria’s nuclear reactor. He has a tremendous amount to say about this moment, and I’m so grateful to have him with us.
Yaakov, thanks so much for being here.
Yaakov Katz:
My pleasure, Noam.
Noam:
This is such a consequential moment. Are you currently in Israel?
Yaakov Katz:
Actually, I’m in Cyprus. I was flying back to Israel Thursday night from a conference in London. I was supposed to land around 3:30 a.m. in Ben Gurion, but instead, our flight was diverted to Cyprus. Thousands of Israelis are stranded here because Israel’s airspace is currently closed.
Noam:
You’re in Cyprus? Wow. That’s really remarkable. Thank you for joining us. So let’s start from the beginning—just objectively. What happened?
Yaakov Katz:
The facts are pretty straightforward. After decades of warning that it might have to take military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, Israel launched a large-scale operation early Friday morning—around 3 or 3:30 a.m. Israel time.
Roughly 200 Israeli Air Force jets, alongside Mossad operatives on the ground in Iran and possibly other special forces we don’t yet know about, participated in coordinated strikes across the country. They targeted three key parts of Iran’s military nuclear infrastructure.
First, nuclear installations. The most well-known is Natanz, a deeply buried facility where Iran has installed thousands of advanced centrifuges to enrich uranium. Another site is Arak, near Tehran, where Iran has allegedly been testing components of a nuclear weapon.
Second, missile capabilities. Israel struck missile bases and air force installations—places where Iran stores and produces long-range ballistic missiles. Going into this, Iran was believed to have several thousand such missiles, though far fewer launchers. Israel wanted to degrade Iran’s ability to retaliate.
And third, leadership decapitation. Strikes reportedly eliminated Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff, the IRGC Air Force commander, other top military leaders, and nuclear scientists.
So: three categories, hours of attacks, and as we’re recording this, the operation is still ongoing.
Noam:
Wow. Thank you for laying that out so clearly. You recently wrote an article identifying three reasons why this moment was the right time to strike. I’d love for you to walk us through those.
It brought me back—I was in college in 2007, writing a paper for Alan Dershowitz, arguing why a preemptive strike on Iran might be justified. This has been talked about for a long time. 2012 was another moment. Why now?
Yaakov Katz:
Right, we’ve been talking about Iran for decades. Their pursuit of nuclear capability began under the Shah in the 1970s, with U.S. support for a civilian program. But after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, everything changed. Intelligence agencies started to pick up signs that Iran’s program wasn’t just about energy—it was about developing nuclear weapons.
Now, some might ask, “Why is an Islamic state with nukes such a big deal?” After all, Pakistan has them. But the difference is that Iran explicitly calls for Israel’s destruction. It’s that toxic combination: a state seeking nuclear weapons while threatening genocide. That’s why this is different.
Noam:
Right. It’s not just about nuclear capacity—it’s about intent. You mentioned in the article three key reasons this was the moment. Let’s go through them.
Yaakov Katz:
Sure.
First, the IAEA—the UN’s nuclear watchdog—reported that Iran has been in violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. They’ve enriched uranium to 60%, which is far beyond the 3-4% needed for civilian energy use. They’re now believed to have enough material for nine nuclear bombs, and could enrich it to weapons-grade in under a week using centrifuges like the ones at Natanz.
Second, Israel’s regional enemies are at their weakest. Since October 7th, Israel has dramatically degraded Hamas and Hezbollah’s capabilities. Assad’s regime is a shell of what it was. Israel destroyed strategic weapons in Syria, and even took out Iran’s advanced Russian-made air defense systems. The retaliation risk today is much lower than it was before October 7.
Third, there’s the U.S. political context. President Trump—though he sought diplomacy—was convinced by Israel that Iran’s demand to retain independent enrichment was a red line. The Trump administration didn’t formally greenlight the operation, but they also didn’t block it. That “gray light” was enough.
Noam:
So similar to the U.S. posture in 2007, when Bush didn’t stop Israel from striking Syria. Let’s talk about those past examples—1981 in Iraq and 2007 in Syria. How is this similar or different?
Yaakov Katz:
In big-picture terms, this is similar: Israel is again sending a clear message that it will not allow a hostile country to acquire nuclear weapons. That’s the Begin Doctrine, named for Menachem Begin, who ordered the 1981 strike on Iraq’s reactor.
In 2007, Israel discovered a North Korean-built reactor in Syria. Prime Minister Olmert asked President Bush to take it out. Bush said no. Olmert said, “Then we’ll do it ourselves.” Bush didn’t stop him—just like Trump now.
So in all three cases—1981, 2007, and 2025—you see Israel acting unilaterally to stop a nuclear threat, with some degree of U.S. consent or at least tolerance.
Noam:
Right. And you’ve mentioned that this moment might have echoes of 1967—preemptively striking Egypt’s air force. Is there a similar sense of national unity or pride in Israel now?
Yaakov Katz:
Yes. I’m in Cyprus, but speaking to people in Israel—including my family—what I’m seeing is awe. There’s a sense of pride in what the Mossad and the IDF have accomplished. This was a stunning, Hollywood-level operation—precision strikes on top commanders while they were asleep in bed. Israelis are impressed, and it brings back memories of the daring operations in 1967, Entebbe, 2007.
Even here in Cyprus, where thousands of Israelis are stranded, people are calm. They understand the stakes. This wasn’t politics—it was national security. And they’re willing to pay the price.
Noam:
That line you said—Zionist blood pumping through your veins—that really resonated. There’s a quote I love from Walter Russell Mead: “Zionism was not the triumphant battle cry of a victorious ethnic group, but a weird, desperate stab at survival.” And the fact that, 77 years in, we still have to make these desperate stabs—it’s both heartbreaking and awe-inspiring.
Yaakov Katz:
Absolutely. And this isn’t just about Israel. Jews worldwide need to be vigilant. Iran has tentacles across the globe. We all need to stand together.
And just anecdotally—watching Israelis stuck here in Cyprus, waiting patiently, not screaming or pushing. That’s not always the case. But today, they understand this moment. They know this is about something bigger. I believe what happened in the last 24 hours will make my children and, please God, my grandchildren more secure. All Jews more secure.
Noam:
And perhaps the world, too. A quick technical question: How did Israel actually get to Iran?
Yaakov Katz:
Great question. Iran is far away—there are multiple countries in between. Israel used F-35 fighter jets, which have stealth capabilities and long-range combat radius. With mid-air refueling, they can reach Iran.
They likely flew over Syria and Iraq. Jordanian airspace was probably avoided to maintain that relationship. In 1981, Israel flew over Jordan to reach Iraq—Jordan wasn’t thrilled. But now, with peace in place, Israel likely chose a different path.
Noam:
Last question. What do the days ahead look like? We’ve talked about how October 7th was a moment of failure and vulnerability. This is the inverse—preemptive strength. What framing or mindset should we carry forward?
Yaakov Katz:
It depends on Iran’s ability to retaliate—and how effective Israel’s missile defense systems are.
But more than that, October 7th changed Israel’s national security doctrine. For decades, we let Hezbollah and Hamas grow stronger. We didn’t act preemptively. That has to change.
This strike shows Israel can’t afford to “wait and see.” It has to act before threats materialize. That’s a sad reality—it means Israel will be in a near-constant state of low-level warfare. But we’ve learned we can’t be complacent. Just because we want peace doesn’t mean our enemies do.
Noam:
Yaakov, thank you for your clarity, your history, and your insights. Your book Shadow Strike is a must-read. We’ll be putting out more on this topic soon. As always, our goal is to bring clarity to the chaos. Yaakov, stay safe. Please send our love to your family. And to everyone listening—Am Yisrael Chai.
Yaakov Katz:
Thank you, Noam.
—-
Unpacking Israeli History and Wondering Jews are productions of Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. I’m Noam Weissman. This episode was produced by Jenny Falcon, Hart Levine, Rivky Stern, and Rob Pera. Mijal Bitton wasn’t with us today, but we’ll be back soon with more. Email me at noam@unpacked.media. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts. See you next time.
Yaakov Katz is the author of books, including: Shadow Strike, Inside Israel’s Secret Mission to Eliminate Syrian Nuclear Power and While Israel Slept with Amir Bohbot. Click here to read more about Yaakov Katz and his work.