israel was " investing billions in home - front defense , " and holding emergency drills , alluding to a military exercise being held this week in cities across israel to test a text message warning system against missile strikes .
jerusalemprime minister benjamin netanyahu said on sunday that most threats to israel 's security were " dwarfed " by the prospect of iran obtaining nuclear weaponry , which local media reports charged tehran had stepped up its efforts to achieve .
in comments also broadcast live by israeli media , netanyahu said that " all the threats currently being directed against the israeli home front are dwarfed by another threat , different in scope , different in substance . "
iran has stepped up work to develop a nuclear warhead , israeli newspapers said on sunday , citing officials in netanyahu 's government and leaked u.s. intelligence .
the cabinet adopted rules on sunday intended to streamline decision - making , such as by setting deadlines for permitting ministers to change their minds about votes , though cabinet secretary zvi hauser insisted these changes were not expressly meant for " any particular type of decision . "
the comments at a weekly cabinet meeting and the front - page reports in the liberal haaretz , a frequent netanyahu critic , and in the conservative , pro - government israel hayom came as israeli debate intensified about whether to go to war against iran - and soon - over its disputed atomic projects .
the debate seemed to defy appeals by u.s. president barack obama , seeking re - election in november , to allow more time for international diplomacy .