Barak tells Gates: All Iran options still on table
Danny Ayalon's comments come after Russia president said Peres told him Israel wouldn't attack Iran.
By Reuters and Haaretz Service Tags: Iran Shimon Peres Israel newsDefense Minister Ehud Barak told his U.S. counterpart Robert Gates on Monday that Israel would not take any option regarding Iran off the table, and urged Washington to set a time limit on its diplomatic efforts.
Israel means what it says when it comes to Iran's contentious nuclear program, Barak said during a meeting with Gates in Washington.
Earlier in his visit on Monday, Barak met with U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones and the U.S. supervisor on Iran, Dennis Ross.
During that meeting, Barak said that Israel was interested in the diplomatic process being consolidated by U.S. President Barack Obama, whereby an agreement with the Palestinians would ensure Israel's interests of security and other crucial matters.
Israel's deputy foreign minister earlier Monday made similar comments regarding Iran, saying Israel has not given up the option of a military response to Tehran's nuclear program. Danny Ayalon's remarks came after Russia's president said his Israeli counterpart had assured him the country would not attack Iran.
Ayalon was asked by Reuters if the comment by President Shimon Peres, as reported on Sunday by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, was a guarantee there would be no Israeli strike on Iran.
"It is certainly not a guarantee," Ayalon replied. "I don't think that, with all due respect, the Russian president is authorized to speak for Israel and certainly we have not taken any option off the table."
In an interview with CNN released on Sunday, Medvedev described an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear sites as "the worst thing that can be imagined." He said Peres made the comment at a meeting in the Russian resort of Sochi in August.
"When he visited me in Sochi, Israeli President Peres said something important for us all: 'Israel does not plan to launch any strikes on Iran. We are a peaceful country and we will not do this'," Medvedev quoted Peres as saying in the interview, which was recorded on Tuesday, according to a Kremlin transcript.
Medvedev's comments came amid speculation that Israel was considering a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities in the belief the Islamic Republic is using them to develop atomic weapons.
The Israel Defense Forces chief staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, also said on Monday that he would not rule out a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, saying all options were open in self-defence.
"Israel has the right to defend itself and all options are on the table," Askenazi said during a rare interview on Army Radio when asked if Israel had the capacity to attack if it felt threatened by Tehran.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in comments published Monday that concern about Iran remains a top priority and that Israel wants the diplomatic efforts being pursued by the Americans to be limited, well defined and followed by tough sanctions. He reiterated that he removes no option from the table, a reference to the possibility of a military assault on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to the paper.
The minister also said a central challenge for the United States now was how to handle the nuclear weapons of North Korea, the paper reported, because that would greatly influence Iran.
"North Korea is developing long-range missiles in the backyard of China and Russia and nothing happens to them," The New York Times quoted him as saying. "When the Iranian leadership asks themselves, 'Should we be worried or just go through the ritual of defying and cheating?' the answer depends on what happens to North Korea. A coherent move toward blocking nuclear proliferation should start with North Korea. It would have very positive ramifications for blocking Iran."
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What is going to happen when it is established that IAF is on it's way to Iran (and they will)? Do you think Iran will run and hide or unleash it's own defense forces before the IAF gets there?
It's funny how most of the 'go for it, Israel' voices here are Jews safe in the US. Pathetic. If you want your voice to be anything more than an empty whine, go to Israel and then complain; at least the rest of the world will consider your ranting. Israel will not attack Iran; have any of you by chance read Medvedev's comments? Not the ones about how Israel will not attack, but the ones on the consequences of such, quite frankly, idiotic' action?
No amount of false propaganda against Pres. Ahmadinejad can hide the crimes of Zionism committed against the Arabs and particularly against the Palestinians.
How naive you are! Do you think for a second Isreal could do what you suggest? Remember, Iran has a military, unlike Gaza and Lebanon. Thirty minutes into an attack the sun will be blocked out by the ten thousand missles Iran will rain on Israel, which will be completely justified under the rules of war. Thank God Israels leaders do not think as you do. They will do nothing but threaten. They want the world to believe an attack is imminent to persuade the world to agree to serious sanctions.
"It`s almost past midnight but the arch appeaser that was begging Arafat at Taba still hasn`t got it :Iranian nukes could obliterate Israel. NK is Japan`s headache ,not Israel`s" And Iran is Israels problem not Americas. Have fun boys!
Two days ago Barak says Iran is not a threat to Israels existence. Now suddenly "all options are still on the table" I suppose that includes the option to do nothing. Israel will be reluctant to attack a country with an army that can and will fight back.
I don't believe that Israel attacking Iran is a good option. The differances between the Israeli raid on Iraq's Osiraq reactor in 1981 and the attacking Iran now are substantial. The distance is 50% greater, there would be no guarantee of surprise due to modern satelite and radar cover and Iran's program comprises many targets. Some of these targets are well protected. Also, Iran is much more powerful than Iraq and has a shahid mentality. Israel can probabably destroy Iran's weapon program and even a large number of Iran's missiles while they are being prepared for launch. However, this would leave an Iran with the technical knowledge and a much greater will to develop nuclear weapons. Also, Iran can use Syria and Hezbollah controled Lebanon to provide a base to drag Israel into a protracted border war. Whatever Israel starts, the Western Allies will have to finish so better that the Western Allies take the only option available to pressure Iran and that is a naval blockade of Iran.
you do what i want. Who fdo they think believes them. They have no military option.
It is nice to see Arabic contribution to this debate 'farrokh'
They just cannot wait to bomb Iran. For that, though, they need permission to fly over Iraq. Obama ain't about to give them that permission and if the Israelis don't get the message, the U.S. military--Air Force and Navy--will be happy to go up and wait for the Israelis to show up. They won't! But if they do, it'll be a great show to see actual dog fights between American and Israeli pilots. The jets are the same. The Israelis seem to think this is a game. It ain't. Stay tuned, folks. This is getting interesting.
No one gives one damn about Iran or Iranians it is the oil fields everyone is concerned about. If Israel can secure Iran's oil and keep it safe while destroying the rest of Iran the other powers fears will be allayed.
"I don't think that, with all due respect, the Russian president is authorized to speak for Israel and certainly we have not taken any option off the table." The Russian president did not pretend to speak for Israel. But he certainly can assume that the Israeli president speaks for Israel, and just as certainly he can take it as insult, both personal and towards Russia, when Peres lies to him. The message is: You can now make me look like a fool for believing you, but be prepared to pay a price. You don't fool the president of Russia and go home laughing.
It could be a tragic mistake,if Israel,because it's going to have American support,will depend too much on the Americans, & less on her own National Interests first & formost. America's interests doesn't always coincide with ours. In a fast & changing situation,be it a huge terror attack or any unforeseeble situation America will deal first of all for her country. In that case,if Israel were to put too much emphasis on America's backing,it could turn out to be a strategic mistake. Israel has to plan all her moves for herself & by herself. To get help is another matter,but not to conjoin the two forces. It's human nature. When you think you have a big & powerful ally you inadvertently depend on him more than it's heatthy for your own sake. Not reading Ehud Barak's entire article it's hard to judge what caused him to make such a U turn ! Is there something more to it than the eye can see ? We don't know.
Bark...bark ...bark.
It's almost past midnight but the arch appeaser that was begging Arafat at Taba still hasn't got it :Iranian nukes could obliterate Israel. NK is Japan's headache ,not Israel's
If he says something, in such a delicate scenario as in Russia, and as President of Israel, he intends something. If he indeed said that Israel won't attack the Iranian nuclear sites, then it is an intended message. One has to understand the context, the timing to be able to judge what he said and why. In my estimation, he probably played the "diplomatic cop" thus triggering others to play "the military cop" and nurture the political willingness to cofront Iran, which is currently close to zero.