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'Israel won't allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons'
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: Israel News, Iran, Strike 

Israel will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, Israeli media on Sunday quoted Michael Oren, who is slated to be Israel's next ambassador to the U.S., as telling pro-Israel lobbyists.

Oren, a noted historian, was quoted as saying that Israel would not remain passive while a regime that has sworn to wipe it off the map acquired the means to do this, referring to comments made by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

He reportedly made the comments at the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington.
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Former Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh, meanwhile, warned the lobbyists of the dire consequences that Iran's attainment of nuclear weapons would have on Israel and the entire Middle East.

"The terrorists across the region will raise their heads because they will have nuclear backing... it will spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East," Sneh told the AIPAC summit.

"Immigration to Israel will stop; parents will encourage their children to leave the country; investment in Israel will drop significantly; moderates in the Middle East will become more extreme."

The event drew more than 6,000 participants, including politicians, students, Jewish community activists and academics. Much of the discussion at the conference was devoted to Iran's nuclear ambitions, which Israel and the United States say are aimed at producing atomic weapons.

Sneh also touched on the much-touted possibility of an Israeli military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.

"From what we know about the progress of Iran's nuclear program, this is the deadline for a decision," he said. "This is an undiplomatic answer, but you need to assume that we have a [military] operational solution, and this is based on what we can do on our own, without permission and without support."

The former lawmaker's comments came after the French magazine L'Express reported on Saturday that the Israel Air Force recently staged military exercises between Israel and the British colony of Gibraltar near southern Spain.

The fact that the drills were held 3,800 kilometers away from Israel "confirms that the Israel Defense Forces is making concrete preparations" to attack Iran over its refusal to cooperate with the international community over its contentious nuclear program, according to L'Express.


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      1.   Paranoid Opportunist addresses paranoid opportunists 22:40  |  Mark Lincoln 03/05/09
      2.   no need for nuclear Iran 22:43  |  eirc 03/05/09
      3.   So.. 23:35  |  Man in the box 03/05/09
      4.   Israel should negotiate for a nuclear free Middle East 23:53  |  Stephen L 03/05/09
      5.   `Israel won`t allow Iran to...` 00:08  |  Colin Wright 04/05/09
      6.   You`re TOO late. 00:32  |  KMX 04/05/09
      7.   Not Remain Passive 00:40  |  Clickfool 04/05/09
      8.   Michael Oren speaks for Israel 00:42  |  a Cohen 04/05/09
      9.   Delusional 00:46  |  Nate 04/05/09
      10.   Nothing to it 00:48  |  ManintheMiddle 04/05/09
      11.   World on Notice 00:52  |  Robert 04/05/09
      12.   how many warheads are you able to stop 01:06  |  Reza Shah 04/05/09
      13.   Attacking Iran would spell doom for Israel... 01:15  |  BBSNews 04/05/09
      14.   I think Iran and most of the world will take that bet 01:32  |  Jon 04/05/09
      15.   Go Legally against Iran 01:44  |  Wedi Asmara... 04/05/09
      16.   The future of Israel 02:01  |  Abe 04/05/09
      17.   nuclear weapons 02:05  |  SHAYA 04/05/09
      18.   Not attackign Iran would be a disaster for Israel 02:15  |  Scott L. Havsy 04/05/09
      19.   Pre-emptive strike against Iran essential to Israel`s survival 02:18  |  Morris Valentine 04/05/09
      20.   The only thing that`s doomed is logic in BBSNews posts 02:28  |  Morris Valentine 04/05/09
      21.   #3 Colin but neither PNG or Togo has US unconditional support 04:30  |  lydia 04/05/09
      22.   To clickfool (#5). Back again for more Israel-bashing? 04:44  |  flyingdoc57 04/05/09
      23.   Mad doesn`t work for Iran because they will use nuclear to use as 04:48  |  ks 04/05/09
      24.   #19 Except.....Morris Valentine 05:36  |  Johnboy 04/05/09
      25.   #20 Morris gets all bolshie 05:48  |  Johnboy 04/05/09
      26.   "Won`t Allow?"Sure,Right,that`s why iran is aquiring them right 06:45  |  glenna 04/05/09
      27.   Remember the Iraqi nuclear reactor? 10:10  |  Hastaroth 04/05/09
      28.   What Ahmadinejad DID NOT say. 10:51  |  tommygunns 04/05/09
      29.   Sneh`s "... [military] operational solution" is an euphemism for 11:04  |  S 04/05/09
      30.   You live the sword you die by sword. 13:51  |  Jim 04/05/09
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