Israel: 'We may have to attack Iran by Dec.'

[bhramos]

Israel: 'We may have to attack Iran by Dec.'
Israel will be compelled to attack Iran's nuclear facilities if Western powers do not impose serious sanctions against Teheran by the end of 2009, former deputy defense minister Ephraim Sneh said on Wednesday.

"We cannot live under the shadow of an Iran with nuclear weapons," he was quoted as telling Reuters in an interview on a visit to the UK. "By the end of the year, if there is no agreement on crippling sanctions aimed at this regime, we will have no choice."
Sneh reportedly stressed that a military strike would be "the very, very last resort. But ironically it is our best friends and allies who are pushing us into a corner where we would have no option but to do it."
"I wonder if they will [put a tougher sanctions regime in place] quickly enough. If not, we are compelled to take action."

Sneh, who holds no position in the government and was speaking in his personal capacity, told Reuters it was not clear the US and EU had the decisiveness to take such steps, which should include tougher banking and oil curbs, by year's end. He added that the need for the involvement of "Russia and China is a myth," as strict sanctions imposed by the West would be tough enough to work.
"It is bloodless, and it even stops short of a naval blockade," he said.



Sneh reportedly explained that Jerusalem could not accept a nuclear-armed Iran because government processes would be "substantially distorted," as the cabinet's decision making would be hostage to the fear of Teheran's nuclear retaliation.
If the Islamic republic completes its military nuclear program, immigration to Israel would stop, young men and women would emigrate to pursue their future in places seen as more secure and investment in Israel would be reduced, he reportedly said.

The former deputy minister also warned that Iran would pressure moderate Arab states to toughen their positions vis-a-vis Israel, and that a nuclear Iran would prompt Saudi Arabia and Egypt to obtain nuclear weapons themselves, bringing about a Middle East "fully loaded with nuclear weapons."

Sneh: We may have to attack Iran by end of 2009 | Iran news | Jerusalem Post

 

[prahladh]

what sanctions would stop them (one of the largest supplier of oil) from building nuke, especially when they are believed to be real close. The fear of attacking their nuke sites and the resulting radiation is of bigger concern than Iran acquiring tech. Israel should capitalize on this fear and invoke sanctions (if those sanctions can stop Iran).

 

[LETHALFORCE]

sanctions have not been effective upto now Rimser

 

[bhramos]

What sanctions can we expect in the near future on Iran?
as noting was effective to stop NK.

 

[natarajan]

why our india didt follow it for pakistan ?
and in one thread i found some saying israel not surrounded by nuke countries and you are right but just small correction they wont allow neighbors to develop nuclear weapons.

 

[bhramos]

we had also chance to neutralise Pak's N-Faculty , but we did not use it.
as luck only comes once, but badluck is always at urs door.
we didn'y use it and now we are suffering N-blackmail,

 

[Pintu]

Iran attack: Israel ex-min sees end-yr deadline | Special Coverage | Reuters

Iran attack: Israel ex-min sees end-yr deadline
Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:15am EDT

By William Maclean, Security Correspondent

LONDON (Reuters) - Israel will be compelled to attack Iran's nuclear sites if Western powers cannot agree crippling sanctions against Tehran by the end of the year, a former Israeli deputy defense minister said on Wednesday. Ephraim Sneh, who holds no position in the current Israeli government and was speaking in his personal capacity, told Reuters it was not clear the United States and European Union had the decisiveness to take such steps, which should include tougher banking and oil curbs, by year's end.

"We cannot live under the shadow of an Iran with nuclear weapons," he said in an interview on a visit to Britain. "By the end of the year, if there is no agreement on crippling sanctions aimed at this regime, we will have no choice."

"This is the very, very last resort. But ironically it is our best friends and allies who are pushing us into a corner where we would have no option but to do it."

"I wonder if they will do it (a tougher sanctions regime) quickly enough. If not, we are compelled to take action."

Sneh, a retired brigadier-general, is a former member of parliament's defense and intelligence committees. As deputy defense minister, he held responsibility for Iran.

A "BLOODLESS" STRATEGY

Sneh's visit was facilitated by The Israel Project, a privately-funded media organization that seeks to explain Israel's security position in the region and has arranged news conferences for serving Israeli officials overseas.

The United States, Germany, France and Britain have threatened Iran with a fourth round of U.N. sanctions if it continues enriching uranium and refuses to clear up concerns it has done extensive research into how to build a nuclear weapon.

Iran says the activity is a civilian electricity program.

Israel has said a nuclear-armed Iran would be a threat to its existence and points to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's calls for Israel to be wiped off the map.

That has raised worries that Israel could ultimately carry out a military strike against Iranian nuclear sites.

Sneh said the sanctions should consist of a total Western boycott of the Iranian banking system, a ban on selling Iran refined petroleum products, a ban on selling spare parts to the Iranian energy industry and a ban on senior Iranian officials traveling to Western capitals.

Sneh said the sanctions need be imposed only by the United States and European nations, because it was clear Russia and China would not go along with them and in any case the need for the involvement of "Russia and China is a myth." Imposed by the West, such a strategy would be tough enough to work.

"It is bloodless, and it even stops short of a naval blockade," he said.

In comments that appeared to signal Israel had not given up on international diplomacy to curb Tehran's atomic ambitions, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday the time had come for tougher sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.

Sneh said Israel had many reasons to block the emergence of a nuclear weapons-capable Iran, because in that event

-- Immigration to Israel would stop.

-- More able young men and women would emigrate to pursue their future in places seen as more secure.

-- Investment in Israel would be reduced.

-- Decision-making by the cabinet would be hostage to the fear of Iranian nuclear retaliation. The processes of government would thereby be "substantially distorted."

-- Extremist forces in the Middle East would be empowered.

-- Iran would pressure moderate forces in the region to toughen their positions in contacts or negotiations with Israel, for example in discussions over Jerusalem or the Golan Heights

-- Saudi Arabia and Egypt would seek to obtain nuclear weapons themselves, bringing about a Middle East "fully loaded with nuclear weapons."

(Editing by Samia Nakhoul)

 

[Pintu]

AFP: Israel keeping all options open on Iran: senior official

Israel keeping all options open on Iran: senior official

(AFP) – 29 minutes ago

JERUSALEM — Israel is not ruling out any option in how to deal with Iran's nuclear programme, a senior official said on Monday after Russia's president said he had been assured the Jewish state would not launch a military strike.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made the comments in an interview with US television, excerpts of which were released by the Kremlin on Sunday.

"When Israeli President (Shimon) Peres was visiting me in Sochi recently, he said something very important for all of us: 'Israel does not plan any strikes on Iran, we are a peaceful country and we will not do this'," he said.

Peres's office declined to comment on the remarks on Monday.

But Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon reiterated what Israeli leaders have said repeatedly -- that the Jewish state was keeping all options open when it comes to its archfoe.

"All options remain on the table," Ayalon was quoted as saying by his spokesman. "It is certainly not a guarantee."

Widely considered the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear power, Israel along with the West suspects Iran of trying to develop atomic weapons under the guise of its nuclear programme, a charge Tehran denies.

Israel considers the Islamic republic its top enemy after repeated statements by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that the Jewish state is doomed to be "wiped off the map" and that the Holocaust was a "myth."

 

[Yusuf]

The fact that they are shouting on top of their voice about attacking is proof enough that they are NOT going to attack. You don't talk about such things. If you gotta do it, you do it. Osirak shocked the hell outta everyone. No one was blowing trumpets before that.

Clearly the target is the US. Israel wants to pressure the US into doing something.

 

[AJSINGH]

well according to the above statement by Israel defence minister , it looks like they are looking forward for attack . who knows with USA behind them they will

 

[RPK]

Iran to "blow up heart" of Israel if attacked: Official

Tehran: Iran would "blow up the heart" of Israel if it was attacked by the Jewish state or the United States, a Revolutionary Guards official was quoted Friday as saying.


"Even if one American or Zionist missile hits our country, before the dust settles, Iranian missiles will blow up the heart of Israel," the IRNA news agency quoted Mojtaba Zolnour as saying.

Zolnour is a deputy representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the elite Guards force. Iranian officials have previously said Tehran would retaliate in event of an Israeli or US attack.

Earlier this year, a senior commander said Iranian missiles could reach Israeli nuclear sites. Israel is believed to be the only nuclear-armed Middle East state.

Israel has not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to end a dispute over Iran's nuclear ambitions, echoing US policy, although Washington is engaged in a drive to resolve the issue through direct talks with Iran.

The West suspects the Islamic state is covertly seeking to develop nuclear weapons, which Iran denies.

"The Zionist regime and the United States cannot risk attacking Iran," Zolnour said in the holy Shi'ite city of Qom on Thursday, citing Iranian military and technological advances, IRNA reported.

At talks in Geneva on October 1, Iran agreed with six world powers -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany -- to give UN experts access to a newly-disclosed uranium enrichment plant south of Tehran.

Iran and Western powers described talks as constructive and a step forward.

However, underlying tension was highlighted before the meeting when Iran test-fired missiles with ranges that could put Israel and US bases in the Gulf region within reach.

 

[ericliang313]

I don't support Iran destroying Israel...but Israel should proceed with caution as well.

Israel #13
Iran #16
Check Global Firepower, I am not sure how accurate it is, but it's interesting.