If they could turn Israel into a cinder, why have they not done it at any point in the last 20 years? Originally Posted by WombRaiderBecause the point isn't to destroy Israel for the sake of destroying Israel. The point is to "liberate" what the radicals in the Muslim world identify as the "occupied territories." Their interpretation of the "occupied territories" is not the same interpretation that the West and the rest of world has. To them, "occupied territories" is all of Israel, which they label as "Palestine," not Israel.
These radicals see all of the Muslim world as being part of the "Islamic Nation." To them, having Israel where it is would be like having a country in the middle of the United States. They see Israel as "invaders" occupying Muslim territory. Detonating a nuclear bomb, to make that area useless, would not make sense.
There would be no point in turning all of that area into smoldering cinders if they cannot use it. The point is to "liberate" by "expelling" the Israelis, liquidating Israel, and "returning" that area to the Palestinians. And, by extension, the "Islamic Nation." Iran's historical method of attempting to accomplish that goal is through funding of the terrorists that are attacking Israel.