To the Editor:

Re "Israel and Iran" (editorial, Aug. 14):

Your lack of sensitivity to the incredibly difficult dilemmas facing Israel as Iran gets closer to its nuclear goal is shocking.

No one suggests that there are easy answers to the challenge. It would have been helpful for The Times at least to acknowledge Israeli concerns:

• That diplomacy shows no signs of working and is just the most recent Iranian stalling tactic.
• That Iran is so very close to embedding its nuclear facilities underground, creating a "zone of immunity" from attack, that Israel has to worry how much time is left.
• That there is a degree of uncertainty in Israel about the United States' willingness to take military action against Iran if sanctions do not do the trick.

Israel is our ally, with existential dangers facing it if Iran should gain a weapon. Putting oneself in Israel's place should be the first order of business in trying to understand and comment on the situation.

Unfortunately, this perspective was completely absent from your editorial.