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Last update - 12:13 21/06/2008
Obama: Israel right to provide for its security amid Iran threat
By Reuters
Tags: Israel, nuclear, Obama, Iran

U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama said Saturday that Israel is justified in providing for its security amid the "extraordinary threat" posed to it by Iran.

Obama spoke after The New York Times quoted unnamed U.S. officials as saying that Israel had carried out a large military exercise this month that appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Obama, a Democrat who is running against Republican John McCain in the November election, was asked at a news conference in Jacksonville, Florida whether Israel was right to carry out the exercise.
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"Without access to the actual detailed intelligence, I want to be careful about characterizing what was done and whether it was appropriate or not," Obama said in his capacity of Illinois senator.

However, he added that Israel was right to be concerned about comments made against it by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and about Tehran's support for militant organizations Hezbollah and Hamas.

"And so there is no doubt that Iran poses an extraordinary threat to Israel and Israel is always justified in making decisions that will provide for its security," Obama said.

The New York Times said more than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighters took part in the maneuvers over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece in the first week of June.

Israel's ambassador to the United States, Sallai Meridor, also talked of the threat posed by Iran in an interview with CBS News.

"We cannot take this threat lightly and as our prime minister recently said Israel will not tolerate a nuclear Iran," Meridor told the U.S. television network.

Asked how much time was left before the diplomatic window closes, Meridor replied, "Less today than we had yesterday, and it's running out."

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  • Report: Israel held military drill as prep for attack on Iran
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      1.   Obama is a typical politician 14:18  |  Christopher 21/06/08
      2.   to Christopher on Obama 15:22  |  Dik 21/06/08
      3.   # 1 Christopher....looks as if we both 15:28  |  Lynn 21/06/08
      4.   If Obama is a true Muslim and intends.... 16:24  |  Rozz 21/06/08
      5.   Poor Obama 16:52  |  Schmuel 21/06/08
      6.   Obama changes tunes again 18:01  |  Shepherd 21/06/08
      7.   OH PLEASE! 18:01  |  DJ 21/06/08
      8.   bravo, obama 18:41  |  frenz 21/06/08
      9.   Obama`s Support for Israel is Strong 19:01  |  US CITIZEN 21/06/08
      10.   The Left`s dream candidate practically endorses an Israeli strike 19:17  |  Freethinker 21/06/08
      11.   Obama Full of It 19:42  |  George Kaplan 21/06/08
      12.   Israel` illegal presence in the territories is the real threat... 19:48  |  Dutch 21/06/08
      13.   Naivite par excellence 19:48  |  David 21/06/08
      14.   Obama`s statement 20:03  |  Democrat 21/06/08
      15.   he quickly backtracked on his claim Jerusalem should be undivided 20:39  |  zionist forever 21/06/08
      16.   morally reprehensible to the free world. 20:42  |  Rodriguez 21/06/08
      17.   Christopher 20:43  |  tonylee 21/06/08
      18.   Datch, are you represent the Free World? 20:51  |  Rodriguez 21/06/08
      19.   Dutch 2 run for president yourself if you can do better 20:57  |  Democrat 21/06/08
      20.   Obama allows Israel to"provide for its security". Not America... 21:05  |  S 21/06/08
      21.   Pastor Wright SAID It 21:27  |  TOBIA 21/06/08
      22.   What will the Israel Defense Forces do? 21:36  |  Sam C 21/06/08
      23.   In other words...... 23:04  |  Lynn 21/06/08
      24.   "whether it was appropriate or not" 23:06  |  Lynn 21/06/08
      25.   #2 Dutch 23:32  |  Bonnie 21/06/08
      26.   To dutch - the bitch is back 23:54  |  JP 21/06/08
      27.   Dutch #2 23:59  |  George Kaplan 21/06/08
      28.   Iran is the real threat 00:20  |  Raphael 22/06/08
      29.   Reply to S 3: Israel provides security to itself and America 00:43  |  Realist 22/06/08
      30.   Yes We Can 00:55  |  Bary 22/06/08
      31.   To # 3 "S" 01:01  |  dan 22/06/08
      32.   Iran MUST WITHDRAW threat to Israel 01:28  |  Jeff 22/06/08
      33.   Amid Terror PLO-PA Threats , Extortions , Skulldugery , 02:21  |  Joseph.E 22/06/08
      34.   # 2 Dutch " you sound like a sore looser , 3-1 to Russia" 02:29  |  Joseph.E 22/06/08
      35.   Just wait, Monday NOBAMA will flip flop from this statement. 02:42  |  John Kerry 22/06/08
      36.   Obama`s is an opportunist. That`s obvious. 03:20  |  Nancy 22/06/08
      37.   S # 3 America is out of this; As it should be! 04:29  |  American in NY 22/06/08
      38.   Obviously true, as far as it goes.... 06:45  |  Johnboy 22/06/08
      39.   OBAMA 15:43  |  MORDECAI BEN NATAN 22/06/08
      40.   Comments by Iran`s president?? 16:25  |  RG 22/06/08
      41.   AS SOON AS THE ARAB MURDERERS GET AHOLD OF THIS STATEMENT;OBAMA.. 17:54  |  glenna 24/06/08
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