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Last update - 07:49 17/02/2009
Barak tells IDF: Iran nukes are an existential threat to Israel
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies
Tags: israel news, barack obama 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak told senior military leaders on Monday that Iran's development of nuclear weapons was likely to "threaten the existence of the State of Israel."

Barak told the top Israel Defense Forces commanders that should Iran achieve nuclear capability, it would enormously strengthen the immunity of groups aided by Tehran and dramatically boost the efforts of enemy regional elements to develop the same capabilities.

"It will be very difficult to stop the trickling if nuclear capabilities, even if primitive, to terrorist organizations," he said. "We have already received our first sign of such from Pakistan.
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Barak added that once the Obama administration began to negotiate with Iran, any efforts to use military offense against the nuclear program would become more difficult.

"We'll see Iranian gestures and steps aimed at pushing off the issue," he said. The defense minister said it was of utmost importance that U.S.-Iran dialogue be relatively short, and followed by deep sanctions.

Meanwhile, visiting U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin said Monday that he saw little difference between the policies of President Barack Obama and his predecessor over Iran - both want to keep Iran from getting nuclear weapons.

Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland, said Obama agrees with George W. Bush: "Iran's got to stop financing terrorist activity. Iran's got to give up its desire to become a nuclear weapons power. Its as clear as that."

Obama has indicated a willingness to negotiate with Iran, while Bush resisted talks.

Cardin also said Obama could use his international good will to try to make progress in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Cardin is leading a fact-finding mission to Israel and Syria. He said he was not asked to carry a message from Israel to Syria.

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      1.   Like everyone does not already know the threat iran nukes are; 23:34  |  glenna 16/02/09
      2.   The significance of the word choice 23:34  |  Colin Wright 16/02/09
      3.   Benjamin Cardin 23:38  |  Chris Linthwaite 16/02/09
      4.   When Iran gets the S-300??? 23:41  |  Scott L. Havsy 16/02/09
      5.   There goes another... 23:42  |  Axel 16/02/09
      6.   Scott # 4 01:37  |  al 17/02/09
      7.   Existential threat? 01:37  |  LATIN LOVER. 17/02/09
      8.   Look At The Facts ! 03:07  |  Rick 17/02/09
      9.   Its time to act 03:24  |  Gregor 17/02/09
      10.   above 04:29  |  A Cohen 17/02/09
      11.   The significance of the word choice re: Colin wright 04:33  |  Yaakov 17/02/09
      12.   Iran won`t nuke Israel, they won`t need to. 05:41  |  John 17/02/09
      13.   I Was Wondering How Quite It`s Been 06:11  |  Persian Kitty 17/02/09
      14.   Statement assumes Iran builds nukes, contrary to reports. 06:25  |  US & UN facts 17/02/09
      15.   Iran & nukes 06:44  |  Bill 17/02/09
      16.   Nuclear Iran 07:01  |  M 17/02/09
      17.   Parallels 1 07:30  |  Ze 17/02/09
      18.   Parallels 2 07:33  |  Ze 17/02/09
      19.   What about Pakistan nukes? 08:04  |  Alan Young 17/02/09
      20.   defencive no offencive 08:27  |  mary 17/02/09
      21.   Iran, the biggest danger to the Middle East and to the world. 08:34  |  Jean Van Daem 17/02/09
      22.   Just more of the same unending, tedious propaganda 09:40  |  Clickfool 17/02/09
      23.   Worried. Make Peace with Pals and treat them as equal. 09:47  |  American 17/02/09
      24.   and vice versa only more so 09:49  |  Rod 17/02/09
      25.   There are no Iranian Nuke, only Israeli Nukes 11:38  |  Johan Odin 17/02/09
      26.   JOHAN ODIN IS RIGHT 14:14  |  Neutered Observer 17/02/09
      27.   Nukes threaten Europe as much as Israel 14:52  |  Avi 17/02/09
      28.   Barak is right but he is the wrong Defense Minister too 14:53  |  Avi 17/02/09
      29.   Nonsense! It`s the Settlements Enterprise, Einstein! 15:29  |  Ivar 17/02/09
      30.   National Intelligence Estimate 20:20  |  Steve 17/02/09
      31.   This comming from 23:42  |  Mark Lincoln 17/02/09
      32.   #1Glenna. Something closer to home for you to be conerned about. 00:19  |  Maureen Ann 18/02/09
      33.   ODIN As soon as your side get rid of their WMD`s 06:14  |  PETER SM 18/02/09
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