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Iran's UN envoyMohammad Khazee addressing the Security Council on Monday before a vote to approve new sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program. (AP)
Last update - 13:49 04/03/2008
PM: Israel has strength, might to defend itself against Iran
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Iran, Nuclear, Israel 

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday that Israel has the might and power to defend itself against any threat from Iran, indicating a willingness to use military force if necessary against Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Olmert spoke after Iran defiantly vowed to continue its nuclear program, despite new sanctions the United Nations imposed on Tehran on Monday for refusing to suspend uranimum enrichment, a process necessary to build an atomic bomb.

"Israel definitely sees itself threatened by Iran," Olmert said in a tour of northern Israel. "Israel has the might and power to defend itself against any threat."
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But he quickly added, "I don't think the Iranian matter is primarily Israel's responsibility. It is the responsibility of the United States and the leading countries in the international community that are convinced Iran constitutes a threat."

Israel: Latest sanctions against Iran do not go far enough

Jerusalem is disappointed with the latest round of sanctions against Iran passed late Monday night by the Security Council, a government source said Monday. Israel sees them as soft, especially with regard to the list of individuals and institutions on which the sanctions would be imposed.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Monday that the Security Council's resolution was another essential step expressing the understanding that the international community must not give up and stand idly by in light of Iran's nuclear efforts.

"Any additional decision by any country, member or group, adds more weight to create the mass of sanctions needed to stop Iran, Livni said.

The resolution, passed Monday, authorizes cargo inspections to and from Iran for prohibited materials, additional monitoring of Iranian financial institutions and the freezing of assets of those involved in its nuclear program.

"If the majority supported it, it only shows it doesn't have enough meat," the source said.

The Foreign Ministry's official response stated that the resolution was passed in recognition of the fact that the international community justifiably has no faith in Iran's declarations that its nuclear program is peaceful.

After the resolution was approved, Iran dismissed the current and previous sanctions resolutions as violations of international law and said they only harmed the 15-nation Security Council's credibility.

"The credibility of the Security Council... is readily downgraded to a mere tool of the national foreign policy of just a few countries," Iran's UN ambassador, Mohammed Khazaee, told the council.

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      1.   Iranian nukes a dead issue 03:16  |  Pablo B 04/03/08
      2.   Palestine ILLEGALLY KNOWN AS ISRAEL 04:05  |  Moshe 04/03/08
      3.   UN is a major BS 04:52  |  Frank 04/03/08
      4.   Pablo, Don`t Delude Yourself Into a Fantasy 05:03  |  Dave Levy 04/03/08
      5.   Hard for UN to Pressure Iran while it ignores Israel`s Rogue WMD 05:25  |  Mr. Know-it-all 04/03/08
      6.   The 4th & Final Sanction 05:26  |  Yuri 04/03/08
      7.   Iran 05:28  |  American Christian 04/03/08
      8.   Israel Objects to Iran Sanctions 05:51  |  jim Brooks 04/03/08
      9.   Iran has enough oil for the next 101 years! 06:00  |  Gili 04/03/08
      10.   #2 American Christian. And Israel? 06:15  |  Maureen Ann 04/03/08
      11.   To American "christian" 06:39  |  David James Vickery 04/03/08
      12.   HEZBOLLAH, IRAN HAS TO BE DEALT WITH 07:10  |  sean 04/03/08
      13.   "NEVER AGAIN" needs to be looked at seriously 07:11  |  sean 04/03/08
      14.   IRAN WON`T BACK DOWN EVEN 1 INCH 07:11  |  indrajaya 04/03/08
      15.   Sanctions are the illusion of action 07:33  |  Natallie Durson 04/03/08
      16.   `Israel: Latest sanctions against Iran not enough` 08:02  |  Colin Wright 04/03/08
      17.   No to Iran`s nuclear program. 08:18  |  Jean Van Daem 04/03/08
      18.   This "sanctions" are a direct result 08:29  |  Kris 04/03/08
      19.   Copy of Letter 08:34  |  Matthew Houston 04/03/08
      20.   Mushroom cloud 08:36  |  Jack R 04/03/08
      21.   To the Canadian Bigot (#3) 08:40  |  Jeff 04/03/08
      22.   This is oriental behaviour of gipsy women 08:47  |  Fritz T. 04/03/08
      23.   David James Vickery 08:52  |  Rhyme and reason 04/03/08
      24.   Happy for Iran 08:53  |  Shahid 04/03/08
      25.   Utterly sickening hypocrisy from a nation with 400 illicit nukes 09:23  |  Clickfool 04/03/08
      26.   Sanctions will not do the job. Period. 09:37  |  Shalom Freedman 04/03/08
      27.   For Jean Van Daem # 4 09:51  |  Clickfool 04/03/08
      28.   Never enough for zionist killers 09:53  |  Bonheur 04/03/08
      29.   You are not going to achieve meaningful 09:55  |  Chris Linthwaite 04/03/08
      30.   Shame on UN 10:18  |  Amir 04/03/08
      31.   You Israelies make me sick! 10:45  |  Sky Diver 04/03/08
      32.   Israel doesn`t care at all about UN Resolutions, does it? 10:48  |  Pilar del Mar 04/03/08
      33.   If Israel really feels threatened she has only 2 options..... 10:49  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/03/08
      34.   Israel in No Position to Point Fingers at Others 10:50  |  Mr. Know-it-all 04/03/08
      35.   The pot calling the kettle black 10:58  |  Danny 04/03/08
      36.   You`re right (left) Israel and actions against Hamas not enough 11:10  |  return gasmasks 04/03/08
      37.   For Swiss (Dino) # 14 11:27  |  Clickfool 04/03/08
      38.   Israeli worries/ #9 11:32  |  Chaz 04/03/08
      39.   Jerusalem is .. 11:50  |  JJ Burke 04/03/08
      40.   Which country has violated nearly 70 UN resolutions?? 11:51  |  Richard Friend 04/03/08
      41.   #2 Moshe, haven`t you lost... 12:02  |  Edith 04/03/08
      42.   # 33, SWISS (DINO) 12:03  |  indrajaya 04/03/08
      43.   #13 Never again is an illusion 12:05  |  Edith 04/03/08
      44.   Sanctions = Business Opportunity for ... 12:09  |  spyguy 04/03/08
      45.   Hope they make it, then use it 12:09  |  JS 04/03/08
      46.   Clickfool is incorrect... 12:14  |  The Judge 04/03/08
      47.   What will be enough to satisfy israel 12:25  |  keeping it real 04/03/08
      48.   What will be enough to satisfy israel 12:25  |  keeping it real 04/03/08
      49.   #4 Dave Levy 12:32  |  Mohammad 04/03/08
      50.   Clickfool. 12:34  |  David Nigel Braham 04/03/08
      51.   The world will be free and peaceful without zionism 12:37  |  John Foregow 04/03/08
      52.   #34 israel flying "bird" 12:43  |  cage that bird 04/03/08
      53.   # 50, DAVID NIGEL BRAHAM (RE: CLICKFOOL) 12:45  |  indrajaya 04/03/08
      54.   Question for David Nigel Braham # 50 12:48  |  Clickfool 04/03/08
      55.   Ignoring the elephant in the room 12:48  |  Truth 04/03/08
      56.   Babylon 12:52  |  American Christian 04/03/08
      57.   Why Israel is frantic # 55 12:57  |  Clickfool 04/03/08
      58.   To Clickfool 54. 13:02  |  David Nigel Braham 04/03/08
      59.   sanctions suck... 13:05  |  ravi 04/03/08
      60.   Iran has enough oil for the next 101 years! 13:14  |  Moshe 04/03/08
      61.   #53 boris the cluccking fool will find out the day its used 13:14  |  v hardman 04/03/08
      62.   ClickFOOL and illicit British guinea pigs 13:17  |  Jonathan S 04/03/08
      63.   peace before israel 13:20  |  chaz 04/03/08
      64.   UN sanctions are a laugh 13:21  |  Jonathan S 04/03/08
      65.   Israel and the UN 13:30  |  JJ 04/03/08
      66.   #62 JonathanS from Frankfurt 13:34  |  Chris Linthwaite 04/03/08
      67.   israel shud be ashamed.. 13:41  |  astar 04/03/08
      68.   #4 Dave Levy 13:43  |  Paul Wood 04/03/08
      69.   Shalom Freedman`s so called Free world 13:43  |  Dutch 04/03/08
      70.   JACK R 13:46  |  games ppl play 04/03/08
      71.   THIS IS TAKING TO LONG 13:58  |  Joey