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Last update - 11:49 09/07/2009
Netanyahu aide: Israel failed on Iran, Obama committed to our security
By Ari Shavit, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel News, Obama, Netanyahu 

National Security Council head Uzi Arad says that Benjamin Netanyahu's government has inherited a "scorched earth" policy on the Iranian nuclear threat from the last administration, but he is certain that President Barack Obama is committed to Israel's security.

In an exclusive interview in Friday's Haaretz Magazine, Arad says Israel displayed an "abominable" failure to address Tehran's nuclear development between 2003 and 2007, Arad says, and while he suggests a potential naval blockade on the Islamic Republic, he adds, "The more credible and concrete the option, the less likely that it will be needed."

Should efforts to halt Iran's centrifuges fail and it becomes a nuclear power, the result would be a multi-nuclear Middle East, with five or six states resembling Pakistan.
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The national security chief described this situation as a "nightmare." He doesn't consider "living with" a nuclear Iran to be an option, as the West has done with the Soviet Union and China.

Regarding the Palestinian arena, Arad says, "I also do not see a Palestinian leadership or a Palestinian regime, but a disorderly constellation of forces and factions."

When it comes to relations with Washington, however, he is more conciliatory: "When President Obama says he is committed to Israel's security, he is speaking the truth. He is committed in the full sense of the word."

As the topic of conversation returns to Iran, Arad says, "The defensive might we have must be improved and become tremendously powerful, and create a situation in which no one will dare to realize the ability to harm us. And if they do dare, we will exact a full price, so that they too will not survive."


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      1.   Iran has no nukes. Israel should not attack "preemptively" 02:37  |  Lou Medel 09/07/09
      2.   Palestinian Leadership 03:17  |  Observer 09/07/09
      3.   They too? 03:41  |  jerri i 09/07/09
      4.   Exacting a full price? 04:08  |  jim the mechanic 09/07/09
      5.   The rabid right wants a war 04:25  |  Mark Lincoln 09/07/09
      6.   That statement is the only one which makes sense: 04:30  |  S 09/07/09
      7.   So Many Ships????? 05:28  |  Mark of Lewiston 09/07/09
      8.   Will Haaretz dare to post this name: Meir Dagan 05:35  |  Fortuna Benmayor 09/07/09
      9.   A Naval Blockade Imposed And Enforced By Whom? 05:43  |  Jeff Northridge 09/07/09
      10.   People who think Israel wants a war don`t understand Israel 05:45  |  Josh 09/07/09
      11.   The problem for Israel 06:18  |  Natallie Durson 09/07/09
      12.   Mr. Arad 06:21  |  Iranian Jew 09/07/09
      13.   #2 Mark Lincoln...Doesn`t Iran have heavy water plants? 06:23  |  Lynn 09/07/09
      14.   With advisors like that we won`t get far.. 06:58  |  David 09/07/09
      15.   Arad treatening war crimes to adversaries.. 07:17  |  Kris Lazar 09/07/09
      16.   4 Jeff Northridge - The Secret is Out 07:53  |  Mark of Lewiston 09/07/09
      17.   Another blowhard. The reality: Iran is too big for us. 08:06  |  Israel Ben Dover 09/07/09
      18.   If we Start Blockading Iran, We`ll Fight Other Navies too 08:24  |  UsedToPostHere 09/07/09
      19.   #4, Jeff Northridge 08:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 09/07/09
      20.   #9, Lynn 09:13  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 09/07/09
      21.   Mr. Arad, you are not a "Nobody" 09:34  |  Nora Tel Aviv 09/07/09
      22.   Plain and simple... Iran issue avoidance technique... 09:56  |  Esther 09/07/09
      23.   a naval blockade 10:12  |  john Spear 09/07/09
      24.   Kris Lazar # 12 10:16  |  S 09/07/09
      25.   Did this genius suggest an Israeli naval blockade on Iran??? 10:20  |  Danny 09/07/09
      26.   Jailed or Assasinated 10:26  |  un2here 09/07/09
      27.   Israel suffering from dangerous delusions of grandeur 10:29  |  Danny 09/07/09
      28.   #17 12:15  |  Iranian Jew 09/07/09
      29.   Mr. Arad 12:22  |  Iranian Jew 09/07/09
      30.   Netanyahu preparing the ground 12:32  |  Chris Linthwaite 09/07/09
      31.   When the United states media is already declaring 13:28  |  Chris Linthwaite 09/07/09
      32.   Cipora Julianna Kohn # 19 Yes, It Was Mentioned Before 14:31  |  Jeff Northridge 09/07/09
      33.   Barak Ravid: If I ever Read a Spin within a Spin! 14:33  |  Abecassis 09/07/09
      34.   #9 Lynn - it`s technology not purpose. 14:35  |  kibblets 09/07/09
      35.   #10 Josh tries on the wishful thinking cap 15:24  |  Johnboy 09/07/09
      36.   OK, so what have we got here? 15:36  |  Johnboy 09/07/09
      37.   to mr.lincoln 16:03  |  jimbo 09/07/09
      38.   American Media is reporting that a state of war 16:09  |  Chris Linthwaite 09/07/09
      39.   Betting on US support is a mistake, so is 16:51  |  Witness 09/07/09
      40.   If there`s going to be a naval blockade... 17:31  |  ManintheMiddle 09/07/09
      41.   Not quite Lynn, but I share the IAEA concern 18:30  |  Mark Lincoln 09/07/09
      42.   Iran has been operating 18:50  |  Mark Lincoln 09/07/09
      43.   observer 20:17  |  patriot 09/07/09
      44.   un2here 20:27  |  patriot 09/07/09
      45.   Wait and see is not an option 21:10  |  bernard ross 09/07/09
      46.   SAMPSON OPTION 00:51  |  MICK 10/07/09
      47.   an Iran nuclear threat is not so much a ME as a global issue - 23:30  |  ivo 10/07/09
      48.   Thinking decades behind reality 04:36  |  Mark Lincoln 11/07/09
      49.   A Nuclear Iran- So What? 15:19  |  Arnold 11/07/09
      50.   Sampson Option 02:27  |  Mark Lincoln 12/07/09
      51.   Those So Concerned About Sampson 07:03  |  UsedToPostHere 12/07/09
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