In recent days, the sky above Israel has been very noisy. The IDF Spokesman hastened to issue an official statement that these were Israeli Air Force exercises that had been planned long in advance.

The Israeli Air Force has renewed its exercises to carry out a possible military attack on Iranian nuclear sites, two years after the suspension of these exercises, the Al-Arabiya network reports, citing news reports published by Channel 12 and the Times of Israel.

Reports indicate that IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi has ordered the financing of this move, which comes amid US sputtering efforts to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table ahead of a new nuclear deal.

According to reports, Israel, and perhaps even Washington, understands that a military plan must be provided in case diplomacy fails, and that it will be difficult to persuade Iran to negotiate without a viable military option.

Earlier, Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the confrontation with Iran was only a matter of time, "not much time."

The paper quoted Lieberman as saying on Thursday that Iran's nuclear program would not be halted in any process or diplomatic agreement.

Israel has approved a $1 billion budget to increase its capabilities to hit a nuclear Iran.

The Israeli government has approved a budget of NIS 5 billion ($1.5 billion), to increase its capabilities to attack the Iranian nuclear program.

Sources said the money would be directed to aircraft, intelligence gathering and satellite use.