Israeli defense officials have told local media they are concerned that Israel is being used as a pawn by rival factions in the White House.

They say a group led by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney that is pushing for military action against Iran, and the U.S. military which is opposing a strike, are both leaking information about a potential attack on the Islamic state by Israel.

One official told The Jerusalem Post comments by U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, following a visit to Israel last week, were designed not only to discourage Israel from attacking Iran, but to “handcuff” those inside the Bush administration calling for military action.

“From the U.S. military perspective, opening up a third front right now would be extremely stressful on us. That doesn’t mean we don’t have capacity or reserves, that would really be very challenging, and the consequences on that would be difficult to predict,” Mullen told reporters at a press conference on his return to Washington.

“Every move in the Middle East is a high-risk move, and that’s why it is so important that the international, financial, economic and diplomatic pieces be brought to bear with a level of intensity that resolves this,” he added.

Despite the rhetoric, an Israeli diplomatic official told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday that as the debate rages in Washington, it was clear that Israel would be unable to take military action without a green light from the U.S.

"Everyone understands that we could not take action without U.S. approval," the official said, "both because we would need to fly through airspace controlled by the U.S., and we would need their help in dealing with repercussions from any attack." The most direct air route to Iran is through Iraqi airspace, which is controlled by the U.S.

"We would need their help in carrying out the attack, and also afterward," the official said.

"We would have to deal with possible military action from Hezbollah and Syria, and also diplomatic fallout - don't expect the world to clap if we attack Iran, and as a result oil prices spiral from $140 a barrel to $300 a barrel."

The official said Israel would need U.S. diplomatic cover to deal with the world's condemnation, and possibly even sanctions, in the aftermath of a raid.

Israeli diplomatic and defense officials told the ‘Post the leaks coming out of the White House were a reflection of deep divisions inside the administration on what to do about Iran.