For Israel, occasional muscle flexing and erratic behaviour serve the purpose of telling the international community that, to avoid a pre-emptive strike, they must hold Israel back — and the only way to do so is to increase non-military pressure on Iran. It pushes back the point of no return; ultimately though, it does not erase it.

No country has ever launched a pre-emptive strike on an enemy's nuclear complex in the short history of nuclear weapons — except Israel. Israel has done it not once but twice: against Iraq in 1981 and Syria in 2007.

Make no mistake then. Israel's Blazing Saddles moment is not just a brilliant exercise in deception — Israel is also making it abundantly clear that it is crazy enough to follow through. Extending the deadline may be evidence that Israel's pressure is working, but do not underestimate Israel's resolve to eliminate a threat to its own survival. On existential matters, Israel has never taken a chance. This time is no different.