Mcgrath, conversely the overall longterm consequence of inaction
could well have turned out worse than the consequences of war.

consider: that had not the Israelis bombed the Baghad nuclear reactor at Osirak in 1981 (an illegal act - certainly not sanctioned by the UN and condemned widely at the time - albeit with tacit approval from many countries) the gulf war might have turned out very differently.
Saddam said that his one regret was not to have acquired nuclear weapons before invading Kuwait.

In that case, inaction by the Israelis certainly would have had wide-ranging consequences.