An Israeli newspaper reports that Israel’s plan to attack nuclear facilities in Iran this fall before the U.S. presidential election is no longer an option.

Israel’s newspaper Haaretz said that the possibility of an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities within this year is very low, given shifts in stances among Israeli leaders.

The daily said leaders appear to be encouraged by the effects of diplomatic and economic sanctions on Iran, such as antigovernment protests and internal splits within the country.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address before the UN General Assembly late last month that he had extended his deadline to the international community for Iran’s nuclear development to spring or summer of 2013. He implied Israel would only decide to attack Iran on its own if all other efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear program failed by that time.