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U.S. President George W. Bush and outgoing prime minister Ehud Olmert. (AP)
Last update - 13:00 26/09/2008
Report: U.S. said no to Israeli strike on Iran
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Israel News, George W. Bush 

The British newspaper The Guardian on Thursday quoted European officials as saying that the United States earlier this year refused to agree to an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.

According to the report, "European diplomatic sources" said that "Israel gave serious thought this spring to launching a military strike on Iran's nuclear sites but was told by President George W. Bush that he would not support it and did not expect to revise that view for the rest of his presidency."

The Guardian quoted the sources as saying that the issue was raised during a one-on-one meeting between Bush and outgoing prime minister Ehud Olmert during the American president's trip to Israel in May to mark its 60th anniversary.
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The sources reportedly attributed the American rejection of an Israeli attack to two factors: fear of Iranian retaliatory attacks on American targets, and concern that an Israeli strike would not successfully take out Iran's nuclear facilities, which are not concentrated in a single area, and some of which are subterranean.

Haaretz reported earlier this month that the U.S. denied Israel a security aid package including "bunker-buster" bombs, permission to use an air corridor to Iran, and an advanced technological system out of concern that Israel would use it to attack nuclear facilities in Iran.

An Israeli spokesman denied The Guardian report Thursday, saying that the "unnamed European source attributed words to the prime minister that were not spoken in any working meeting with foreign guests."

But, spokesman Mark Regev told The Guardian, "The need to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is raised at every meeting between the prime minister and foreign leaders. Israel prefers a diplomatic solution to this issue but all options must remain on the table."

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      1.   As if Israel will let that stop them! I don`t think so. 02:05  |  Could be why 26/09/08
      2.   Whewww! 02:31  |  Persian Kitty 26/09/08
      3.   Ask Iraq for overflight clearance 02:33  |  Pablo B 26/09/08
      4.   He said, she said, yes or no or whatever... 02:46  |  Questionmark 26/09/08
      5.   About time 02:51  |  Chet 26/09/08
      6.   This is good news! 03:00  |  Mu 26/09/08
      7.   This is good news! 03:02  |  Murray of Montreal 26/09/08
      8.   We are too busy starting a war with Pakistan right now 03:16  |  Mark Lincoln 26/09/08
      9.   Under Dhimmi Kadima Israel Major Decision Are Not Made In Jerusal 03:42  |  Joseph.E 26/09/08
      10.   European officials were not at the meeting 03:42  |  B (The Other One) 26/09/08
      11.   There will be no US attack on Iran... 04:13  |  BBSNews 26/09/08
      12.   strike 04:22  |  claire 26/09/08
      13.   prediction 04:45  |  vik 26/09/08
      14.   The American Situation 04:49  |  Mark Lincoln 26/09/08
      15.   "Even Bush" 05:04  |  David M 26/09/08
      16.   #4 Claire 05:21  |  Sheikh Rattle & Roll 26/09/08
      17.   Comment to Viks magnificent prediction. 05:37  |  Magnus K. 26/09/08
      18.   The loony tunes cannot comprehend 05:46  |  Mark Lincoln 26/09/08
      19.   Iran was willing to retaliate with 20K missiles per minute 06:07  |  Aounist 26/09/08
      20.   vik 5 06:11  |  potobac 26/09/08
      21.   From Mosul 06:14  |  Mosul111 26/09/08
      22.   US Said no to Israeli stroke on Iran 07:03  |  Millicent 26/09/08
      23.   TO Vik # 13 07:05  |  Steve Beikirch 26/09/08
      24.   TO MARK LINCOLN # 8 07:10  |  Steve Beikirch 26/09/08
      25.   Israel and AIPAC will continue to pressure the next president.... 07:28  |  Joe 26/09/08
      26.   Why are we asking them? 07:37  |  Jewish Lady 26/09/08
      27.   You can`t always get what you want 07:42  |  Natallie Durson 26/09/08
      28.   #8, Mark Lincoln 07:48  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/09/08
      29.   Strike on Iran is imminent 07:48  |  Avinash 26/09/08
      30.   #18, Mark Lincoln 07:52  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/09/08
      31.   What it means 07:53  |  Motke 26/09/08
      32.   Decisions for the security of Israel should be taken in ... 07:58  |  Jean Van Daem 26/09/08
      33.   potabc -- yes it is 07:59  |  vik 26/09/08
      34.   Dubious source 08:06  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 26/09/08
      35.   # 33 Margie in Tel Aviv 08:21  |  Joseph.E 26/09/08
      36.   #34, Margie in TA 08:27  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/09/08
      37.   #19 Aounist - HUMOR - 20,000 missiles/minute. 08:39  |  S 26/09/08
      38.   Iranian Nuke threat needed to keep SDI funded 08:40  |  Voice of Reason 26/09/08
      39.   "Will YOU whack Iran for us? Pretty, pretty please" 09:08  |  Clickfool 26/09/08
      40.   #26 Let me explain, Jewish Lady 09:15  |  Johnboy 26/09/08
      41.   For Jean van Daem, the Propaganda Factory # 32 09:25  |  Clickfool 26/09/08
      42.   #32 Israel is free to make the call, Jean 09:31  |  Johnboy 26/09/08
      43.   Cipora Julianna Kohn 09:50  |  TonyL 26/09/08
      44.   Sadly Mark Lincoln, I must concur 10:04  |  BBSNews 26/09/08
      45.   Foreign leaders bored of Israel`s problems. 10:05  |  Michael 26/09/08
      46.   CFOOL where did they say"whack" ?As opposed to other means 10:22  |  PETER SM 26/09/08
      47.   No U.S or Israel attack on Iran 10:30  |  Avinash 26/09/08
      48.   If the story is true, then the U.S. has acted...... 10:32  |  Swiss (Dino) 26/09/08
      49.   JOE from Palestine.A leftist paper " diplomatic sources" 10:38  |  PETER SM 26/09/08
      50.   For Mark Lincoln, on the Toxic Bank plan # 18 10:39  |  Clickfool 26/09/08
      51.   "Open letter" from Switzerland to the Talkback audience.... 10:48  |  Swiss (Dino) 26/09/08
      52.   Shana Tova Cipora 11:02  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 26/09/08
      53.   Israel should wait on the sidelines 11:24  |  CM 26/09/08
      54.   No one will strike Iran 11:48  |  MiddleStanian 26/09/08
      55.   Megalomania of some posts here 11:56  |  Israeli citizen 26/09/08
      56.   #44 the economic decline of the usa has nothing to do with 11:58  |  v.hardman 26/09/08
      57.   You`re being disingenuous, Peter SM # 46 12:21  |  Clickfool 26/09/08
      58.   My earlier comment were not posted, is it S Arabia 12:45  |  Fahim 26/09/08
      59.   johnboy israel will be left standing 13:07  |  yirmi 26/09/08
      60.   johnboy when has israel ever hidden behind anybody 13:13  |  yirmi 26/09/08
      61.   MAD worked with the USSR, unlikely to work with Iran 13:14  |  Reggie 26/09/08
      62.   clickfool the uk is no better then the usa 13:18  |  brighton rock 26/09/08
      63.   I told you so... 13:25  |  George Washington 26/09/08
      64.