Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., December 17, 2007 Tevet 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 20:43 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Hanukkah

United States Undersecretary of State John Rood speaking at a news conference in Budapest earlier this month. (Reuters) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 10:21 17/12/2007 Senior U.S. official visits Israel to hold high-level talks on Iran By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: nuclear, Israel, U.S., Iran Israel and the United States were scheduled to hold high-level talks on Iran's nuclear program on Monday. John Rood, assistant secretary of state for nonproliferation, arrived in Israel Sunday night. He was to meet with Foreign Ministry director-general Aharon Abramowitz on Monday, as well as officials from the Defense Ministry, the Mossad and the Foreign Ministry's strategic affairs department. The main focus of the talks will be the new U.S. National Intelligence Estimate, which claimed that Iran has halted its nuclear weapons program, and the efforts to pass a new UN Security Council resolution expanding sanctions against Tehran for its ongoing refusal to halt uranium enrichment. Advertisement Israeli officials said that they will give Rood, one of the most senior American officials involved in the diplomatic effort to halt the Iranian nuclear program, the most up-to-date intelligence Jerusalem has gathered on this program. However, their outlook was gloomy. "There won't be a third Security Council resolution against Iran before January, and even then, it is likely to be watered down and toothless," one official said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rebuked Public Security Minister Avi Dichter for having said on Saturday that the NIE is liable to bring about the regional equivalent of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and that Israel would be one of the victims. "I ask ministers to stop making declarations about Iran and the American intelligence report," Olmert said during Sunday's cabinet meeting. The cabinet sets policy on this issue, the prime minister said, and "there is no place for personal declarations by this or that minister on this sensitive and complex issue. Such declarations do not help in waging the struggle against the Iranian nuclear program and they do not help our relations with the U.S. This matter must be handled with extreme caution." Related articles: Israel, U.S. to meet to discuss differing assessments on Iran U.S.: Iran halted nuclear weapons development in 2003 Dichter slams U.S. 'misconception' of Iranian nuclear threat PM: Israel will work to expose Iran nuclear program Bookmark to del.icio.us No rights The gov't won't grant rights to Palestinians west of fence, according to a report. Right to a child The Welfare Min. is launching a policy that would allow single-sex families to adopt.   1.   A must read 07:14  |  Adeel 17/12/07   2.   Military Confrontation Necessary 08:57  |  Khaled 17/12/07   3.   Iran?s Intent: Ask a 4-year-old 09:12  |  Shtikipedia 17/12/07   4.   Sorry, Israel`s hope for a war with Iran is dashed 09:43  |  ManintheMiddle 17/12/07   5.   #2, KHALED, brainwashed as usual 10:24  |  VIPER 17/12/07   6.   High-Level Talks 10:31  |  Paulo 17/12/07   7.   You`re right, Khaled # 3 10:31  |  Clickfool 17/12/07   8.   OT: Reindeer really can fly 10:32  |  Clickfool 17/12/07   9.   Khaled, # 2 13:00  |  Anoher Khaled 17/12/07   10.   # 3 13:03  |  Ralph 17/12/07   11.   # 5 to # 2 Khaled 13:09  |  Waleed 17/12/07   12.   no `war` ahead, simply iran`s comprehensive incineration 20:38  |  frenz 17/12/07

Today Online Ron Breiman: Greater Israel - Not Peace Now but Zionism Now Responses: 122 Moshe Arens: The IDF must move into Gaza to curb Qassams Responses: 64 'Hava Nagila' enters race for Christmas No. 1 in Britain Responses: 84 FM Livni: Israel is committed to creating Palestinian state Responses: 116 Israelis appear twice in 50 top scientific breakthroughs Responses: 108 Rosner's Domain Guest: The leader of the Zionist Organization of America on the Mideast post Annapolis Without the Reform movement in Israel, there's no Reform movement So, Should American Jews have a voice in shaping Israel's policies? Fewer Israelis say peace personally important (What to Read) More Headlines 19:39 French FM: World donors pledge $7.4 billion to boost PA economy 20:37 Bush says supports Russian shipment of enriched uranium to Iran 18:59 Barak: I'll work toward allocating NIS 320m to protect rocket-weary south 17:19 Galilee militant gets life term for kidnap-murder of IDF soldier 15:32 'Hava Nagila' enters race for Christmas No. 1 in Britain 20:43 Itzik urges Assad to transfer Eli Cohen's remains to Israel 20:43 South Korea chooses Israeli-made unmanned surveillance plane 16:59 Israel releases Palestinian mother imprisoned for aiding Hamas 18:07 Conductor Barenboim slams Israel after musician barred from entering Gaza 17:58 Poll: Support for Hamas stable despite worsening conditions in Gaza Previous Editions Select Day 16 dec 14 dec 13 dec 12 dec 11 dec 10 dec 09 dec 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec

Special Offers Advertisement Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt. Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved