Report: Israeli Minister Says 'We Will Attack Iran' if Nuke Program Continues

[GaryC 7]

Report: Israeli Minister Says 'We Will Attack Iran' if Nuke Program Continues

AP

June 3: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert speaks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington.

JERUSALEM — Israel will attack Iran if it doesn't abandon its nuclear program, a Cabinet minister hoping to replace embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was quoted Friday as saying.

Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz also said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "will disappear before Israel does," the Yediot Ahronot daily reported. Ahmadinejad has called repeatedly for Israel's destruction.

Mofaz's spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the remarks, which were much more explicit than anything Olmert himself has said. Olmert has gone no further than hinting that Israel was prepared to use force against Iranian nuclear facilities, saying only Tuesday that "the Iranian threat must be stopped by all means. "

According to the newspaper report, Mofaz — a former chief of staff and defense minister — has concluded that international sanctions haven't curbed Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

"If Iran continues its nuclear arms program — we will attack it," the newspaper quoted Mofaz as saying. "The sanctions aren't effective. There will be no choice but to attack Iran to halt the Iranian nuclear program."

There is a precedent for Israeli military action: In 1981, Israeli planes destroyed an unfinished Iraqi reactor.

An Israeli military strike against Iran would have U.S. backing, Mofaz was quoted as saying.

In Washington this week, Iran dominated Olmert's meetings with U.S. President George W. Bush, the Israeli leader told reporters. And Bush sought to reassure Israelis who are worried about the U.S. commitment to keeping Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb, saying, "It's very important for the world to take the Iranian threat quite seriously, which the United States does."

Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and designed to produce energy.

Mofaz's bellicose comments on Iran coincide with the launching of his campaign to replace Olmert as head of Israel's governing Kadima Party if a corruption probe pushes Olmert out of office. Mofaz is carving out a hawkish position, and earlier this week, spoke out against returning the Golan Heights, captured in the 1967 Mideast war, to Syria.

Syria and Israel recently disclosed they have resumed peace talks, with Turkey as go-between.

A recent poll of Kadima members showed the more centrist Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni easily besting Mofaz in a party leadership race.

Police are investigating Olmert on suspicion of bribe-taking, campaign funding violations and money laundering.

Olmert has said he would only resign if indicted. So far, no charges have been brought against him, but a key witness in the corruption scandal has accused the prime minister of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, in part to finance a lavish lifestyle.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,363606,00.html

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Marvellous

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Direct threats of war often escalate to war quickly.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

"If Iran continues its nuclear arms program — we will attack it," the newspaper quoted Mofaz as saying. "The sanctions aren't effective. There will be no choice but to attack Iran to halt the Iranian nuclear program."

Good.

It's time Israel took care of its own enemies itself, like it used to. The US won't invade and occupy another country on your behalf for a very long time, Israel.

[HAL 9000 96]

Sweet.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

"If Iran continues its nuclear arms program — we will attack it," the newspaper quoted Mofaz as saying. "The sanctions aren't effective. There will be no choice but to attack Iran to halt the Iranian nuclear program."

Good.

It's time Israel took care of its own enemies itself, like it used to. The US won't invade and occupy another country on your behalf for a very long time, Israel.

but you know SOH will be by to remind you that the usa supports israel so it's an attack by proxy, or something to that effect

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

An attack by proxy is fine. Let Israelis die in this invasion, not Americans.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

If Israel waits too long Iran will nuke them first. This is a fact unless you are in denial.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If Israel waits too long Iran will nuke them first. This is a fact unless you are in denial.

Sucks to be Israel.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

If Israel waits too long Iran will nuke them first. This is a fact unless you are in denial.

Sucks to be Israel.

Sucks to be an Infidel or Jew.

[almaty 19]

If Israel waits too long Iran will nuke them first. This is a fact unless you are in denial.

Sucks to be Israel.

you, anti-semite

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If Israel waits too long Iran will nuke them first. This is a fact unless you are in denial.

Sucks to be Israel.

Sucks to be an Infidel or Jew.

Only if you're in Israel. The world is full of infidels, how many of them do the Iranians plan to nuke?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

If Israel waits too long Iran will nuke them first. This is a fact unless you are in denial.

Sucks to be Israel.

Sucks to be an Infidel or Jew.

Only if you're in Israel. The world is full of infidels, how many of them do the Iranians plan to nuke?

As many as possible.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If Israel waits too long Iran will nuke them first. This is a fact unless you are in denial.

Sucks to be Israel.

Sucks to be an Infidel or Jew.

Only if you're in Israel. The world is full of infidels, how many of them do the Iranians plan to nuke?

As many as possible.

Israel can defend itself. Iran won't get very far.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If Israel waits too long Iran will nuke them first. This is a fact unless you are in denial.

Problem here is that such a step by Iran would assure them of total destruction by Israel's second strike capability - which they increased significantly . The Iranians know this. They may have a nutcase running the show there right now but as a nation they're not suicidal. And national suicide it would be if they were to launch nukes against Isreal. This is also a fact. Unless you're in denial.

Edited June 6, 2008 by Mr. Big Dog