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Last update - 15:14 01/02/2009
Elections 2009 / Netanyahu: Iran won't get its hands on nuclear weapons
By The Associated Press
Tags: benjamin netanyahu 

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's leading candidate for prime minister, said Saturday that Iran will not be armed with a nuclear weapon.



In an interview with Channel 2 TV, Netanyahu said if elected prime minister his first mission will be to thwart the Iranian nuclear threat. Netanyahu, the current opposition leader and head of the Likud party, called Iran the greatest danger to Israel and to all humanity.
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When asked if stopping Iran's nuclear ambitions included a military strike, he replied: "It includes everything that is necessary to make this statement come true."

Iran says it is seeking nuclear power for peaceful purposes and not for a weapons program.

The Channel 2 broadcast interviewed all three candidates for prime minister ahead of the Feb. 10 election. The three did not debate each other and appeared one after the other to answer questions posted by Israelis in YouTube videos.

Tzipi Livni of Kadima and Ehud Barak of Labor were both asked about how they intended to deal with the continuing rocket threat from Hamas militants in Gaza. Both took a hard line.

"Hamas was hit like it was never hit before," Barak, the defense minister, said. "If they try us again, they will be hit again."

Israeli launched a massive three-week offensive against Gaza militants on Dec. 27 to stop eight years of near-daily militant rocket fire at southern Israeli towns. Nearly 1,300 Palestinians were killed in the fighting, about half of them civilians, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights. Thirteen Israelis were also killed, three of them civilians.

Livni, the foreign minister, said if Hamas hasn't gotten the message yet Israel would strike it again. Regardless, she said Hamas could not be negotiated with and called on the people of Gaza to overthrow their regime. "I do not intend to reach any agreements with Hamas. Agreements I make with people who accept my existence," she said. "They do not recognize Israel and do not renounce violence and terrorism. They will not be a party to an agreement and therefore the people of Gaza have to expel the Hamas from within them."

Related articles:
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  • Kadima: Netanyahu-led Israel would clash with Obama
  • U.S. congressman: Give talks with Iran no more than 3 months
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      1.   Please Elect Bibi. Bibi = Strength 03:14  |  Fred 01/02/09
      2.   Tell That to Pakistan 03:14  |  Knott Bushman 01/02/09
      3.   Who would have thought otherwise ? 03:17  |  Romy 01/02/09
      4.   The Universal Right Wing Answer 03:22  |  Mark Lincoln 01/02/09
      5.   Livni & Barak`s Plan is to wait for Hamas to attack 03:56  |  Adrien 01/02/09
      6.   Good for Iran 04:17  |  David 01/02/09
      7.   Barking Dogs Seldom Bite 04:23  |  Cool B 01/02/09
      8.   Israel adopts Bush doctrine as he goes out, Obama in... 04:44  |  BBSNews 01/02/09
      9.   LOL, is it election time again in Israel ? 05:19  |  Iranian 01/02/09
      10.   What nuclear weapons? 05:58  |  Damian Lataan 01/02/09
      11.   It Would Behoove Netanyahu & Other Israeli Leaders to Keep Quiet 06:19  |  ott 01/02/09
      12.   I Don`t Think So 06:21  |  Ron 01/02/09
      13.   Iran...Make my Day...Punk! 06:32  |  Dirty Harry Callahan 01/02/09
      14.   This is not vengeance...This is Punishment 06:34  |  `The Punisher` 01/02/09
      15.   Netanyahu 06:47  |  steve 01/02/09
      16.   Ron - They`re Politicians 06:48  |  Mark of Lewiston 01/02/09
      17.   I think they will 07:03  |  Tim 01/02/09
      18.   Bibi is unfortunately too late for that now. 07:17  |  Fortuna Benmayor 01/02/09
      19.   Netanyahu in his bubble. 07:25  |  Maureen Ann 01/02/09
      20.   Iran, the biggest danger to the Middle East and to the world. 07:42  |  Jean Van Daem 01/02/09
      21.   To #1 07:49  |  Dan J 01/02/09
      22.   Does Bibi really believe that Iran will ask his permission...? 08:21  |  Esther 01/02/09
      23.   Don`t underestimate the IAF 08:50  |  Scott L. Havsy 01/02/09
      24.   #2 I agree that Israel should not be manipulated 08:51  |  lily 01/02/09
      25.   Speaking as a member of the west ... 08:57  |  MRV 01/02/09
      26.   IRAN AND HAMAS !. 09:26  |  Orao Stranka. 01/02/09
      27.   Go for it Israel 09:33  |  Mark B. 01/02/09
      28.   Which country will face more sanctions after 3 years Netanyahu ?? 09:39  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/02/09
      29.   Iran wont get its hand no nukes 09:44  |  SKH 01/02/09
      30.   Iran is a threat to the entire world 10:05  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/02/09
      31.   #10, MRV 10:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/02/09
      32.   #15 Cipora JK on hegomonistic ambitions 10:21  |  Mark B. 01/02/09
      33.   PLO yesterday - Iran to-day - Who`s next ? 10:28  |  think 01/02/09
      34.   Big mouth makes idle threats 10:41  |  Clickfool 01/02/09
      35.   Response to No 9 10:52  |  Scientist 01/02/09
      36.   #17, Mark B, you are highly mistaken 10:58  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/02/09
      37.   Israel understands terrorism 11:02  |  Natallie Durson 01/02/09
      38.   GO NETANYAHU win..Israel`s DAYS will be NUMBERED.. 11:34  |  ali 01/02/09
      39.   Ms Durson understands who understands. She is the best 12:23  |  Israeli citizen 01/02/09
      40.   Not going to happen 12:42  |  Chris Linthwaite 01/02/09
      41.   Bibi will say ANYTHING that might bring the votes in... 13:05  |  Esther 01/02/09
      42.   Ms Durson understands who understands, she is the best 13:07  |  Israeli citizen 01/02/09
      43.   I agree with Clickfool # 34 13:15  |  peter 01/02/09
      44.   #37 Natalie Drugson 13:17  |  H 01/02/09
      45.   Let´s pray. But I don´t know what. As soon as Iran has gone 13:21  |  Jew- and Bookburner 01/02/09
      46.   #41 H of London 13:41  |  Chris Linthwaite 01/02/09
      47.   @ 23 Osirak had been done by some luck only 13:43  |  Jew- and Bookburner 01/02/09
      48.   It`s the OCCUPATION, Einstein, not Iran! 13:44  |  Ivar 01/02/09
      49.   BiBi is crazy enough to do it ! 14:09  |  Charlie 01/02/09
      50.   why not you have it 14:11  |  Sam 01/02/09
      51.   could you imagine Bush and Netaniahu together? 16:24  |  kaled 01/02/09
      52.   #48 Charlie 20:05  |  Space 01/02/09
      53.   Netanyahu and the settlers 22:53  |  Charlie 01/02/09
      54.   is it so easy? 02:29  |  geev 02/02/09
      55.   has anyone considered that saudi and iran bought nukes 02:41  |  think about it 02/02/09
      56.   Bibi 05:20  |  lazaz 02/02/09
      57.   #4 Mark Lincoln 05:30  |  Moshe 02/02/09
      58.   You won`t be able to 05:49  |  jacob 02/02/09
      59.   2009 05:59  |  Erik 02/02/09
      60.   Let`s go to Meggido, come on 03:21  |  Emid 03/02/09
      61.   War or Peace? 04:09  |  MarkH 03/02/09
      62.   BiBi is Israel`s best hope for PM;he at least has a voice to stop 04:14  |  glenna 03/02/09
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