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Israel to present Clinton with 'red lines' on talks with Iran
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Hillary Clinton, Iran 

Israel plans to present U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with a series of "red lines" it wants Washington to incorporate into its planned dialogue with Tehran about Iran's nuclear program.

Clinton arrived in Israel Monday night and will meet with various Israeli officials Tuesday.

The red lines were jointly formulated by the Foreign Ministry and the defense establishment, and Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu has been briefed on them. The document recommends that Israel adopt a positive attitude toward the planned U.S.-Iranian dialogue, but proposes ways of minimizing what Israeli officials see as the risks inherent in such talks. Its main points are as follows:
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1. Any dialogue must be both preceded by and accompanied by harsher sanctions against Iran, both within the framework of the UN Security Council and outside it. Otherwise, the talks are liable to be perceived by both Iran and the international community as acceptance of Iran's nuclear program.

2. Before the dialogue begins, the U.S. should formulate an action plan with Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain regarding what to do if the talks fail. Specifically, there must be an agreement that the talks' failure will prompt extremely harsh international sanctions on Iran.

3. A time limit must be set for the talks, to prevent Iran from merely buying time to complete its nuclear development. The talks should also be defined as a "one-time opportunity" for Tehran.

4. Timing is critical, and the U.S. should consider whether it makes sense to begin the talks before Iran's presidential election in June.

The red lines were approved by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak at a meeting with senior defense officials last week. All three plan to raise them at their respective meetings with Clinton Tuesday.

Within the defense establishment, the majority view, led by chief of Military Intelligence Amos Yadlin, is that Israel should regard the U.S.-Iranian dialogue as an opportunity rather than a threat. The minority view, spearheaded by the Defense Ministry, is that the dialogue entails grave risks.

Israel's estimate of the progress of Iran's nuclear program differs from both that of the International Atomic Energy Agency and that expressed on Sunday by Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Two weeks ago, the IAEA reported a significant increase in Iran's stockpile of low-enriched uranium since November, to 1,010 kilograms - enough, some physicists say, for conversion into high-enriched uranium for one bomb. And Mullen told CNN on Sunday that he believes Iran already has enough enriched uranium for a nuclear device.

Israel's assessment, in contrast, is that Iran does not yet have enough uranium for a bomb; it thinks Iran will reach this point only in late 2009 or early 2010.

Nevertheless, Olmert told Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon on Sunday that the "timetable for Iran's nuclear program is pressing, and therefore, determined action is necessary. Israel will not tolerate a nuclear Iran."

One question to which Israeli officials will be seeking an answer from Clinton is what role Dennis Ross, the secretary of state's newly appointed special advisor for the Gulf and Southeast Asia, will actually play. It is widely expected that Ross will focus on the Iranian nuclear issue, but this has not been stated officially.

In addition to Olmert, Livni and Barak, Clinton will meet Tuesday with Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. Wednesday, she will travel to Ramallah for meetings with Palestinian officials.

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      1.   Red lines for Israel, from the US 02:00  |  binny 03/03/09
      2.   Bunny,!#, you jst don`t get it! 02:09  |  Judah 03/03/09
      3.   Red lines 02:11  |  Oz 03/03/09
      4.   Israel to refuse all US cash ! 02:17  |  Neutered Observer 03/03/09
      5.   Don`t expect anything but sanctions from Obama 02:22  |  Gregor 03/03/09
      6.   binny`s blurring of lines... 02:22  |  Akiva P 03/03/09
      7.   Clinton to present Israel with redlines 02:33  |  Chris Linthwaite 03/03/09
      8.   Well said Binny 03:39  |  JJ 03/03/09
      9.   Iran 03:41  |  Ed 03/03/09
      10.   America`s Little Dependant 03:57  |  Maynard 03/03/09
      11.   This is crazy 04:06  |  JL 03/03/09
      12.   Israel`s `red lines` are brave & wise ! 05:17  |  Akram Zekaria 03/03/09
      13.   "Red Lines" from Israel to the U.S. 05:28  |  Ralph 03/03/09
      14.   Old glory days... no more baby 06:26  |  Iranian-American 03/03/09
      15.   I honestly doubt that the US is going to play puppet 06:48  |  Kris Lazar 03/03/09
      16.   `red lines` 07:05  |  cogit8 03/03/09
      17.   Translating this bit..... 07:07  |  Johnboy 03/03/09
      18.   1st: Palestinians present Red Lines to Israel 07:27  |  Nour 03/03/09
      19.   Israel`s "red lines" regarding US talks with Iran 07:40  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/03/09
      20.   #5, Akiva to binny 07:45  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/03/09
      21.   Hillary Needs to Visit Sderot 07:53  |  John 03/03/09
      22.   Red Lines 07:55  |  Victor 03/03/09
      23.   What a bunch spoiled kids 08:00  |  Cyrus the Great 03/03/09
      24.   If Israel will dismental thier nuclear weapons 08:11  |  Steve 03/03/09
      25.   Who`s the superpower here? 08:13  |  David 03/03/09
      26.   No nuc in Isarel and Iran!!!! 08:20  |  Peace from US 03/03/09
      27.   And If US will ignore Israel? 08:30  |  Normal Jew 03/03/09
      28.   # 2 no, it`s YOU who don`t get it, judah 08:48  |  eric 03/03/09
      29.   For the first time I agree with everybody before me!!! 08:52  |  S 03/03/09
      30.   Cipora # 14 What about the Nukes from Isarel? 09:02  |  Jhony want peace 03/03/09
      31.   I wonder who is in charge 09:09  |  Fellow man 03/03/09
      32.   Do the math (if you are able) 09:11  |  Natallie Durson 03/03/09
      33.   IRAN MUST KEEP QUITE 09:16  |  indrajaya 03/03/09
      34.   #28, eric and the "pompous" red lines 09:19  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/03/09
      35.   I dare ya to step over this (red) line! Okay, I dare ya again! 09:23  |  Natallie Durson 03/03/09
      36.   #29, S 09:28  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/03/09
      37.   Hard reality Israel is blind to ... 10:03  |  spyguy 03/03/09
      38.   Binny for President!!!! 10:11  |  Hanna 03/03/09
      39.   State department to move to Jerusalem 10:26  |  Axel 03/03/09
      40.   #30 Johny looking for israeli nukes 10:36  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/03/09
      41.   Israel will get its way !! 10:44  |  Westwell 03/03/09
      42.   this is fresh 10:45  |  critical american 03/03/09
      43.   Binny # 1 and the red lines. 10:50  |  Westwell 03/03/09
      44.   Slave 11:00  |  Mats 03/03/09
      45.   David # 25 Superpower? 11:02  |  Westwell 03/03/09
      46.   Who says Israel is in no postion to put red lines? 11:06  |  Westwell 03/03/09
      47.   what`s good for zion is good for iran 11:10  |  benzi oppenheimer 03/03/09
      48.   #36 Cipora 11:12  |  S 03/03/09
      49.   Fellow man # 31, do not wonder 11:16  |  Westwell 03/03/09
      50.   Westwell, mighty upset about red lines 11:21  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/03/09
      51.   ciporah nekhmedet-are you stating as a fact 11:26  |  bar-beran ma`alum 03/03/09
      52.   Transperent Lies 11:34  |  Spewie 03/03/09
      53.   You call these just "red lines"? 11:36  |  Westwell 03/03/09
      54.   # 1 Very well said, binny...... 11:40  |  Swiss (Dino) 03/03/09
      55.   The only nuclear threat in the ME is Israel! 12:01  |  Damian Lataan 03/03/09
      56.   Cipora Julianna Kohn # 50 12:07  |  Westwell 03/03/09
      57.   Whoever does not like our red lines, listen up. 12:58  |  Tzfonit 03/03/09
      58.   # 57 Tzfonit, you can make demands as long as you want..... 13:14  |  Swiss (Dino) 03/03/09
      59.   What a waste ! 13:22  |  Akram Zekaria 03/03/09
      60.   ooooohhh... a diktat from the Israelis. 13:23  |  Erastus CoupeDeVille 03/03/09
      61.   Dino and give and take 13:28  |  Tzfonit 03/03/09
      62.   # 3 Neutered Observer 13:32  |  Petra 03/03/09
      63.   Sit up, Beg! 13:36  |  Mark Lincoln 03/03/09
      64.   #25 David 15:51  |  John Allen 03/03/09
      65.   Tzfonit # 57 stop whining 15:54  |  American in NY 03/03/09
      66.   #27 Normal Jew!!! 15:57  |  John Allen 03/03/09
      67.   Grubby tail plans to wag big dozy dog 16:01  |  Clickfool 03/03/09
      68.   Hey, Cipora # 19 16:04  |  Clickfool 03/03/09
      69.   and America presents green lines to Israel 16:05  |  American in NY 03/03/09
      70.   Cipora looking for Jazz Cigarettes # 40 16:06  |  Clickfool 03/03/09
      71.   My, God..... 16:07  |  Clickfool 03/03/09
      72.   o YA WHY DO YOU COME AND RUN OUR COUNTRY 16:11  |  US PERSON 03/03/09
      73.   Israel a very little entity and should not speak like superpower! 17:17  |  Moise 03/03/09
      74.   CJK #20 do a quick google 17:17  |  Roo 03/03/09
      75.   How about the Green line? 17:26  |  Mandelarab 03/03/09
      76.   gregor,reagan "cleaned up" carters mess" by climbing in bed with 17:29  |  show me state 03/03/09
      77.   Clinton 17:39  |  No Name 03/03/09
      78.   RedLine 17:50  |  KatFish Keefe 03/03/09
      79.   65 American in NY re Tzfonit 18:12  |  H 03/03/09
      80.   Tzfonit correction to #61 18:19  |  Roo 03/03/09
      81.   Iran attack very unlikely 20:24  |  mehmet 03/03/09
      82.   # 61 Tzfonit (2nd try), unfortunately you forgot to mention...... 21:18  |  Swiss (Dino) 03/03/09
      83.   I see that i upset everyone 21:19  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/03/09
      84.   UN 21:20  |  James 03/03/09
      85.   #74, Roo, you really amuse me 21:22  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/03/09
      86.   The latest US NIE says Iran has no nuclear weapon program 22:56  |  Feckless 03/03/09
      87.   CJK #85 Well.... 23:29  |  Roo 03/03/09
      88.   CJK #85 Well.... 23:34  |  Roo 03/03/09
      89.   Israel is unstoppable ! For now. 00:38  |  Westwell 04/03/09
      90.   TZNOFIT............. 00:57  |  Bell the Cat 04/03/09
      91.   # 61 tzfonit 00:57  |  Axel 04/03/09
      92.   Our masters speak 01:00  |  Colin Wright 04/03/09
      93.   80~ Roo do a quick google yourself .. 04:09  |  Akram Zekaria 04/03/09
      94.   Using `red lines` as a Chess strategy 04:13  |  allang 04/03/09
      95.   Westwell#89-Hizbullah stopped Israel and so has Hamas 04:16  |  Uri Levy 04/03/09
      96.   #21 John, the photo-op is in Gaza. 04:37  |  James Hovland 04/03/09
      97.   How arrogant 05:19  |  Tarek 04/03/09
      98.   RE: Akram Zekaria -- Listening to Gaza 05:34  |  binny 04/03/09
      99.   As Bill Clinton once said to netanyahu... 05:38  |  David 04/03/09
      100.   Maz Jobrani ( Iran calls America) 07:36  |  funniest clip ever 04/03/09
      101.   #19 Cipora Julianna Kohn 09:31  |  Jim 04/03/09
      102.   Iran/Israel 16:31  |  Michael 04/03/09
      103.   H # 79 time to stop wallowing in self pity 18:01  |  American in NY 04/03/09
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