An Iranian ballistic missile is paraded through the streets of Tehran. (Fars)

EXPERT SAYS ATTACK ON IRAN WOULD BE BETTER THAN NUCLEAR IRAN: Former Military Intelligence chief Amos Yadlin said Tuesday that military action in Iran would be less perilous to the Jewish state than if Iran obtains a nuclear bomb. Speaking at the annual conference of the Institute for National Security in Tel Aviv, Yadlin said, “Attacking Iran would be less dangerous for Israel than a nuclear Iran, but we need to work out a strategic plan not only for the attack itself but also for the day after the attack.” Speaking at the same conference, PM Netanyahu expressed his disappointment over the way the negotiations between world powers and Iran, over its disputed nuclear program, were going. (Arutz-7)

OBAMA NEEDS IRAN FOR REELECTION, SAYS FORMER EU ADVISER: President Barack Obama wants world powers to keep talking with Iran to keep the price of oil from rising and hurting his election chances, says a former European Union adviser. “The Americans’ motive for negotiation is keeping the situation calm to prevent Israel’s unsolicited moves that might upset the electoral process in the United States,” according to Alastair Crooke, former adviser to EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana. Crooke said the US policy of continued talks with Iran is also aimed at “stopping increasing tensions in the Middle-East resulting in escalation in oil prices.” The de facto Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, is running neck-and-neck with President Obama in pre-election polls. A senior member of the Iranian Parliament was recently quoted as saying President Obama needs an agreement with Iran to get reelected. (Arutz-7)

US CUTS MIDEAST MILITARY DRILL SHORT: A massive joint military drill sponsored by the US with several Mideast nations has suddenly been canceled. No reason was given for the abrupt about-face. Over 12,000 soldiers were taking part in the war games, representing 19 countries, including Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Britain, France, Italy, Spain and Australia. Of those, 6,500 soldiers were from the US, and 3,500 were from Jordan. The drill focused on training Jordanian and Saudi service personnel in how to treat refugees, and on naval interception of smuggling vessels. Although it began on time, the exercise was instead halted on Monday – three days early. One possible explanation may have to do with Syrian irritation over the drill. Syrian newspapers claimed the “Exercise Eager Lion 12” was named after the Arabic surname of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as a message that foreign forces are knocking at his door. Assad means “lion” in Arabic. Thus far, at least 110,000 Syrian refugees have crossed the Jordanian border to find safety in the Hashemite Kingdom. (INN)

POLAND SLAPS OBAMA’S ‘IGNORANCE’ FOR POLISH DEATH CAMP REMARK: Poland has taken deep offense at what it called President Barack Obama’s “ignorance and incompetence” for referring to a “Polish death camp.” The incident is one of a string of previous White House insults to Poland.  During a ceremony in which he awarded the Medal of Freedom to 13 people, the president cited the late Polish resistance fighter Jan Karski, who died in 2000. Obama referred to the resistance fighter’s trip across enemy lines to validate reports that Jews were being murdered on a massive scale in a “Polish death camp.” Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski fired off an angry complaint that the president should have called it a “German death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.” The White House hurriedly issued an apology and assured that the president has repeatedly discussed the bravery of Poles during World War II. According to one commentator, the president’s use of the term “Polish death camp” is hugely insulting to the Polish people. He added that for a US administration that boasts of smart power, this was an act of staggering historical ignorance as well as crass insensitivity. (INN)

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING TO SHINE BLUE AND WHITE FOR ISRAEL PARADE: New York City’s Empire State Building will be lit up in blue and white in honor of the Israeli flag to mark the June 3 Salute to Israel parade, as hundreds of thousands celebrate and take pride in the 64th anniversary of the modern State of Israel. More than 200 groups from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Israel will march down Fifth Avenue in the momentous event. Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to follow the happening and cheer on the approximated 35,000 participants and 29 floats. The parade will be televised live in the New York metropolitan area for the second consecutive year. (Arutz-7)