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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 18:25 12/11/2007 Top Israeli officials tour Europe to urge tougher sanctions on Iran By Reuters tags: nuclear sanctions  Senior Israeli officials are touring Europe this week to raise the alarm about Iran's accelerating nuclear program and urge European Union governments to take tougher sanctions without waiting for the United Nations. "We are concerned that people in Europe are not aware of the Iranian threat. There is little discussion about it," one of the officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. While European Union policymakers are aware of the strategic implications if Iran achieves a nuclear capability, the official said the European public and media seemed largely oblivious. Advertisement The officials, visiting Brussels, Berlin, Vienna and Rome on this trip, are carrying a list of suggested political and commercial measures they want the Europeans to take to increase pressure on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment. They range from declaring an elite unit of the Revolutionary Guards Corps a terrorist organization, as the United States has done, to ending export credits and foreign trade insurance for business with Iran, a move the EU is debating. Other steps the officials say would hit key forces in Tehran include banning all dealings with Iran's revolutionary economic foundations, which fund the clerical leadership, barring the sale of spare parts for oil refineries and prohibiting insurance for merchant vessels entering Iranian ports. The officials also want the EU states to end the sale of tunnelling and mining equipment, which they say Iran is using to conceal and protect its nuclear facilities deep underground. EU officials say some of these steps are already under consideration, although several member states want a UN resolution for any further measures, arguing that China and Russia will otherwise simply take European business in Iran. Tehran insists its secretive nuclear program is for purely civilian purposes to generate electricity. The West suspects the oil-and-gas rich state is seeking a bomb, asking why else it would be racing to enrich fuel for non-existent power stations. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Mohammed ElBaradei, are due to report this month on whether Iran is still defying UN demands to halt enrichment and withholding information on past activities. Six major powers - the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France and Germany - have agreed to present a third Security Council sanctions resolution if the reports are negative, but they disagree on the scope of any new measures. China is most reluctant to restrict trade with Tehran, with Russia also reticent and Germany hesitant, diplomats say. The Israeli officials said the International Atomic Energy Agency knew where to go and whom to interview in Iran to get on the trail of efforts to develop nuclear warheads, known in the jargon as "weaponiation", but its work program with Iran did not cover these issues. The IAEA, the UN watchdog, says it has found no evidence of a military nuclear program in Iran but does not have full access. The Israeli delegation's European itinerary charts Jerusalem's main concerns about foot-dragging. While France and Britain are pressing for tougher EU sanctions, Germany says a UN resolution is needed, while Italy and Austria are the strongest opponents of trade restrictions. Bookmark to del.icio.us Religious identity Palestinian negotiator Erekat: Palestinians won't accept Israel as a 'Jewish State' Freedom of expression The head of Google Israel refuses to censor anti-Jewish hate material on the internet.   1.   Chancellor Merkel 18:44  |  Axel 12/11/07   2.   Sanctions on Israel, instead. 19:14  |  POP 12/11/07   3.   Sanctions on Israel, instead. 19:14  |  POP 12/11/07   4.   Germany is cheating the world again 19:29  |  Jonathan S 12/11/07   5.   Bushehr exists. Fuel needs 6 months before go-live 19:54  |  Pablo B 12/11/07   6.   Iran violation/sancations 19:55  |  Zvi 12/11/07   7.   question to pop 20:17  |  scallywag 12/11/07   8.   question to scallywag 20:51  |  Pablo B 12/11/07   9.   Watch out, pestering schnorrers about! 21:25  |  Clickfool 12/11/07   10.   pablo b. 21:30  |  scallywag 12/11/07   11.   #8 Pablo B. 21:40  |  Sarah 12/11/07   12.   For Scallywag # 10 21:59  |  Clickfool 12/11/07   13.   Clickfool 22:00  |  Sarah 12/11/07   14.   scallywag - Where should he visit? 22:39  |  Pablo B 12/11/07   15.   For Sarah # 13 22:48  |  Clickfool 12/11/07   16.   Chancellor Merkel today 23:17  |  Axel 12/11/07   17.   pablo b. and clickfool 23:54  |  scallywag 12/11/07   18.   Clickfool 00:02  |  Sarah 13/11/07

Today Online Erekat: Palestinians will not accept Israel as 'Jewish state' Responses: 485 Haaretz.com TV: Arab family takes in homeless Jews Responses: 150 Israel to pardon dozens more wanted W. Bank militants Responses: 96 Rosner: It's hard to find something to talk about at this year's GA Responses: 6 At least seven killed as Hamas opens fire on Arafat rally in Gaza Responses: 159 Religious or secular, regulars mourn end of Jerusalem's gay bar Responses: 45 Rosner's Domain GA 2007: Oy vey, no catastrophe to talk about The Ahmadinejad of the year (WTR) Ahead of summit, N.Y. Congressman fears for Mideast stability Rosner's Guest: Vanessa Ochs More Headlines 22:43 Israel agrees to pardon dozens more W. Bank militants 23:54 At least seven killed after Hamas opens fire on Arafat rally in Gaza 00:34 ANALYSIS: There isn't much to talk about at this year's GA 18:33 Erekat: Palestinians will not accept Israel as 'Jewish state' 21:30 Head of Google Israel refuses to censor hate material on the Web 21:57 Germany to provide 5m euros for Jewish museum in Warsaw 22:00 VIEWPOINT / 'Israel Lobby' book may have sinister impact in U.K. 15:10 IDF reservist dies in armored vehicle crash during Golan drill 18:58 Holon fan confesses to throwing firecracker at game, wounding guard 23:00 Mazuz backs Lebanon war panel's decision not to warn individuals Previous Editions Select Day 12 nov 11 nov 09 nov 08 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 02 nov 01 nov 31 oct 30 oct

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