Report says Israel may delay Iran attack

JERUSALEM, March 8 (UPI) -- Israel agreed to hold off a strike on Iran's nuclear sites this year in exchange for receiving U.S. military equipment, diplomatic sources said.

Quoting unnamed western diplomatic and intelligence sources, the Hebrew language daily Maariv said Thursday the United States has agreed to supply Israel with bunker-busting bombs and refueling planes if Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu agrees to delay a military strike on Iran this year.

The deal is conditional on Netanyahu's agreement, the newspaper said.

U.S. President Barack Obama gave Israel neither a green light for an attack, nor a red light but rather a "bright yellow light" tantamount to a red one, sources told Maariv.

The sources said the American president made it clear to Netanyahu that an Israeli attack uncoordinated with the U.S. military will have serious implications regarding regional stability and relations between the two countries.

The sources said it will be "difficult if not impossible" for Israel to ignore Obama's warnings.

The report claims Israel will agree not to take any action against Iran at least until the end of 2012, after the upcoming U.S. elections.