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Last update - 14:06 26/05/2009
Barak: U.S. must learn - outposts and Iran are unrelated issues
By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Tags: IDF, Nuclear, Israel News 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Tuesday that the United States must be told that Iran's nuclear program and outpost activity in the West Bank are two unrelated issues.

"We need to find a way to explain to the Americans that there is no link between outposts and Iran," Barak told reporters. "It's not as though the minute an illegal outpost is dismantled the Iranian will abandon their nuclear aspirations. Therefore, these issues must not be directly hinged on one another."

"The Iranian threat does not face the State of Israel alone. Iran is threatening the stability of the entire region, as well as many European and Muslim states," Barak added. "The free world, moderate elements in the region and Israel see eye to eye on this threat.
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According to the defense minister, Israel is not in a position to issue ultimatums to the U.S. regarding its overtures to Iran for diplomacy. "We can only express our stance, that every dialogue be given a deadline and that comprehensive and effective sanctions are simultaneously prepared."

Barak reiterated that Israel was not taking any option off the table with regard to Iran. "We mean what we say and we suggest others follow our lead," said the defense minister.

Meanwhile, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi told lawmakers earlier Tuesday he was preparing every possible measure Israel could take to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"As chief of staff, my position is to prepare all the alternatives for dealing with the Iranian nuclear problem, which is what I am doing," Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.


Ashkenazi's comments came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that if Israel does not eliminate the Iranian threat, no one will.

"Iran is continuing with its program," the IDF chief added. "Nuclear weapons in Iran's hands could undermine the stability of the entire Middle East."

Israel, the United States and other western nations say Iran's nuclear program is aimed at manufacturing nuclear weapons. Iran, the world's fourth largest oil producer, insists the program is for civilian purposes only.

"There is now a dialogue between the United States and Iran and we do not know at this stage whether it will bear fruit. The option of talks alongside sanctions is preferable to us," Ashkenazi said.


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      1.   Ashkenazi, you are alone in this game 15:11  |  Nora 26/05/09
      2.   Gen. Ashkenazi and the Iranian menace. 15:26  |  Stephen. 26/05/09
      3.   All Possible Measures? 16:05  |  Joe Kelsall 26/05/09
      4.   @1 , Nora 16:27  |  Efraim 26/05/09
      5.   #2 Stephen - And the Iranian reprisal? 16:42  |  Yonatan 26/05/09
      6.   USA never officially confirm they think they are getting nukes 16:45  |  ezra 26/05/09
      7.   He`s blowing smoke 16:51  |  Gully Foyle 26/05/09
      8.   You are not informed of the latest news on Iran? 17:15  |  Jim 26/05/09
      9.   NOW! You Are Preparing???? 17:24  |  david 26/05/09
      10.   Israel army is unable to hit 17:25  |  journalist 26/05/09
      11.   This will weaken the United States 18:30  |  Wrath of Uncle Sam 26/05/09
      12.   C a r e f u l handling b r e a k a b l e items 18:57  |  H.H.M 26/05/09
      13.   Entire Settler Enterprise is definitely related to Iran problem 19:36  |  Ivar 26/05/09
      14.   Barak Might as Well be Singing in the Shower! 20:02  |  Monitor 26/05/09
      15.   What U.S. must learn is to step back 20:37  |  Witness 26/05/09
      16.   Barak: U.S. must learn - outposts and Iran are unrelated issues?? 20:49  |  Natallie Durson 26/05/09
      17.   Good article! 21:03  |  rial 26/05/09
      18.   Tired of the lies 21:07  |  Tzvi 26/05/09
      19.   Muslims are responsible 21:16  |  Frank 26/05/09
      20.   Unrelated, indeed, but so what? 00:34  |  fritz t. 27/05/09
      21.   Of Course, We`re All Ignorant Hicks 00:38  |  Mark of Lewiston 27/05/09
      22.   response: Tired of the lies 00:50  |  Avi 27/05/09
      23.   Iran 01:07  |  M 27/05/09
      24.   Israel is fearmongering and hatemongering 01:28  |  Harold 27/05/09
      25.   Israel Wants to Strike Iran 02:02  |  Ed 27/05/09
      26.   Barak is absolutely right on this one. 02:05  |  Fortuna Benmayor 27/05/09
      27.   No. 16 02:06  |  Rich Man 27/05/09
      28.   Ahmidinnerjacket is not a ... 02:31  |  Jasper 27/05/09
      29.   Barak, not Barack, just doesn`t get it 02:33  |  Michael Several 27/05/09
      30.   Gully Foyle 02:47  |  Jasper 27/05/09
      31.   Ivar 02:57  |  Jasper 27/05/09
      32.   #22 Jasper 03:14  |  Gully Foyle 27/05/09
      33.   A straw man argument from Barak 03:27  |  Johnboy 27/05/09
      34.   US must learn - outposts and Iran are unrelated 03:37  |  Abraham 27/05/09
      35.   They are unrelated for Obama 03:50  |  Steve 27/05/09
      36.   Yonatan 04:14  |  TonyL 27/05/09
      37.   and what barak AND israel don`t understand 05:21  |  eric 27/05/09
      38.   Barak: The USA must learn 05:45  |  Mark Lincoln 27/05/09
      39.   Tzvi, 18 tired because he is stuck in unreality 06:17  |  Ivar 27/05/09
      40.   Jasper`s, 31, topsy turvy view of Iran needs righting 06:19  |  Ivar 27/05/09
      41.   Iran wants to destroy Israel for several reasons : 08:24  |  Mario Sala 27/05/09
      42.   attack on iran 21:54  |  jamal aldifaie 27/05/09
      43.   U.S. must learn 22:45  |  tom 27/05/09
      44.   Israel must learn that they are dependent on US money 08:48  |  Demo 28/05/09
      45.   # 43 & 44 American Money & China 12:41  |  The Teacher/Instruct 29/05/09
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