Some 200,000 missiles aimed consistently at Israel, top IDF officer says
Head of military intelligence Aviv Kochavi reiterates army estimates that Iran could further enrich that uranium it already has to create 4 atomic bombs.
By Amos Harel Tags: Iran threat Iran nuclear Iran IDFAbout 200,000 missiles are aimed at Israel at any given time, a top Israel Defense Forces officer said on Thursday, adding that Iran's ability to obtain nuclear weapons was solely dependent on the will of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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Head of military intelligence Aviv Kochavi speaking at the Herzliya Conference, Feb. 2, 2012. |
| Photo by: Tal Nissim |
The remarks by Military Intelligence Chief Major General Aviv Kochavi came after IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz said on Wednesday that the threats facing Israel have increased and intensified in recent years due to regional instability.
Speaking to the Herzliya Conference, Gantz said that Iran's nuclear program is a "global problem and a regional problem," adding that Tehran's attempts to acquire nuclear weapons must continue to be disrupted.
On Thursday, Kochavi, speaking at the opening session of the Herzliya Conference's closing day, spoke of the growing threats Israel was facing: "a more hostile, more Islamic, more sensitive Middle East, one more attune to public sentiment, less controlled by the regimes, and less susceptible to international influence."
The chief of military intelligence then indicated that about 200,000 missiles were aimed at Israel at any given time, adding, however, that "Israel's military deterrence is intact."
Referring to Israel's concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions, Kochavi presented a relatively tame estimation of a possible timeline en route to an Iranian atomic bomb, saying that the project depended more on the will of Iran's Supreme Leader than on any technological advancement.
"If Khamenei issues a command to achieve a first nuclear explosive device, we estimate it would take another year before that's achieved," the top IDF official said, adding that "if he asks to translate that ability to obtain a nuclear warhead, that would take another year or two."
Kochavi also reiterated the IDF estimate that Iran is in possession of more than 4 tons of low-grade enriched uranium as well as almost 100 kilograms of uranium enriched at 20%.
"If those are enriched more, to a 90% level, that would be enough for 4 atomic bombs," the IDF officer said.
The military intelligence chief added that the sanctions on Iran "are taking their toll. There's 16% unemployment, 24% annual inflation, and practically no growth," he said adding that "at this point the pressure isn’t leading Iran to a strategic shift."
However, Kochavi added that "there's a potential, with greater pressure, that the regime, interested first and foremost in its own survival, would reconsider its position."
Speaking at the Herzliya conference on Tuesday, President Shimon Peres also referred to the Iranian nuclear threat, saying that Tehran's "evil" leaders cannot be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.
"It is the duty of the international community to prevent evil and nuclear [weapons] from coming together. That is the obligations of most of the leaders of the free world, one which they must meet," Peres said.
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As long as Israel continues to provoke they will motivate hate, anger, and pointy rockets. If that really bothers Israel then they should withdraw inside their own borders to start with. So sick of Israeli whining and playing the victim.
;)
The economy of most countries especially the poor ones shall be devastated by attacking Iran. Netanyahu should think millions of time before engaging in a very dangerous adventure just to make the world forget about the oppressed Palestinians.
I can't believe how totally ignorant of facts and history most of the readers here are. Is it their hate of Israel or just plain ignorents that they can't see the danger Iran and her proxies pose to the world. Stating Irand has not started a war in over 100 years is ridiculous, Iran hasn't been run by the Ayatolahs and their religious beliefs beforeThis more like these readers can't see the forest for the trees. There were a number of people defending Hitler, before he put his plans into action
Give Mossad the exact location so it can destroy them.
Are you suggesting to face war planes in an open field? hahahaha I will never justified using women and children as human shields however, using white phosphorus bombs ans shelling heavily populated civilian areas is what you call "being valiant" and courageous? What about the IDF facing Hezbollah using stones and arrows?
Persia is thousands years old civilization . They have never started a we for the past century.why don't you leave them alone? They don't want another sadam to attack them...
and there is not much it can do about it
"Tehran's "evil" leaders cannot be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. ".... What about Israeli leader ?? Are they angels ? All leaders who can give command to kill thousand pwople can give command to kill millions... Israel should give up its nuclear power before asking Iran not to develop one !!
Israel Never threatened to wipe Israel off the map, Israel do not blow busses, coffee shops and schools full of kids and women and the elderly, Israel doesn’t kill its own citizens, AND Israel will not Just wait for them to execute on this threat. Ain't going to happen, they will not have nuclear weapon and if Iran, Syria or Lebanon will launch one missile towards Israel, they will be no more. Israel will take care of it like they did for the past 65 years-defending the only small homeland of the Jewish people. Just look at Syria 65 dead yesterday, Egypt 73 dead yesterday, Iraq, 44 dead yesterday and so on, and these are people Israel supposed to trust and do peace with. You Arabs lovers and loony left, it will never happen and Israel here to stay strong and prosper and all of you can eat your hate. Israel the leader with the most college graduates per capita than any other country in the world, the most noble prize winners per capita, the most high tech companies, the most inventions per capita and the place where all the major conglomerates are having R&D centers than anywhere outside the US (Are they in any Arabs country-I think no).
Agree, Israel never threaten to wife Iran off the map but they has been doing it, wiping and displaced million of Palestine from their home sin 1960s. Israel keep on doing this and forever supported by EU.
Israel is not a western country. It is georgaphically and socio-politiclaly a middle eastern country
so just like Iraq, the west would be fighting israeli interested wars.
But why, Israel is such a peaceful country? why would anyone aim 200,000 missiles on the peaceful entity which has always tried to bring peace and tranquility to all the neighboring countries ever since the 40ies....
This is a war of survival and we intend that Israel survives.
It would be hylarious if it was not tragic. When I think that my life and my sons's life and security is in the hands of such nerds, like this "military intelligence" chief Aviv Kochavi. Wow. If you want peace, prepare peace , not war ! Unless you want a Pax Romana (all dead). Just as simple
The idea that Iran COULD make some nuclear bombs if it so chooses is causing Israeli heads to pop. Although I beleive a lot of what is being said by the Israeli military is merely posturing to try and prevent budget cuts to Defence, with a succession of army wallahs being trotted out to talk about ever worsening scenerios to a people who last year made their choice clear. An affordable standard of living in Israel.
That is why Israel and USa want to divide them and start war
Kochavi means missiles that coudl be used in a war against Israel. Maybe he hasn't noticed but currently, because of a relentless campaign by Israel and pro-Israel lobbyists, there is a real possibility that the US, Israel and the West could all attack Iran. So Iran is 'threatened' by far more missiles than Israel and many of the missiles that 'threaten' Iran are far bigger and more lethal than those that 'threaten' Israel. Which is probably why Iran would like nukes.
and stop the endless warmongering
Iran has not attacked anyone for more than one hundred years. On the other hand, in its sixty years of existence Israel has done nothing but attack other nations and its own indigenous people, the Palestinians. It is so deluded it is laughable. Israel wants the world to go to war because Iran might get as many weapons as Israel has pointed at Iran???? Or could it be that there is less delusion and it comes down to simple egotism - Israel wants to be the power in the Middle East and is determined to destroy any threats to that role? Whatever the answer there is unlikely to be peace in the Middle East or the world until Israel is brought under control.
... in between all these Arab initiated wars Palestinian and other terrorists blew up Israeli civilian buses, hijacked airplanes, shot up synagogues, blew up a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, left bombs in Israeli schoolyards, hurled grenades at Israeli shoppers, bombed Israeli school buses, sent terror squads over Israel's borders to kill Israeli civilians, sent suicide bombers to blow up Israeli discos, cafes, Passover seders, restaurants etc. etc. etc. Naw, the poor defenseless Arab states and Palestinian beneficent societies called the PLO and Hamas have done nothing over the decades to possibly warrant Israeli military attention. They are simply hapless victims of Israeli aggression. R.Jonas: if ignorance were a virtue, you'd be a saint.
Since its Independence, Israel has been attacked. All wars were caused by enemies attacks and not the opposite.
Fire missiles at lebanon and there will be no israel left .
The redline has been drawn by Hezbollah in which Israel will never dare cross ever so stop your yapping
Did you watch what recently is gloing on within UN having end- and fruitless "conferences" and negotiation about how to handle the crisis in Syria? Do you relly think they could handle an even more overall crisis?
however since Israel refuse to let go of the occupied territories, Israel reject talks.
they want ME without Israel..
Why would Israel want to do a silly thing like that? It might ruin their constant ongoing fearmungering, and pity party that has been running for 63 years and getting top billing.It might bring some sanity to an otherwise insane situation. It could: GOD forbid open the eyes of other governments to the fact that thay have been played for suckers all these years. MY GOD HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? That's way too simple and makes way too much sense.
...and the rest aimed at the rest of the middle east/world.
Israel is a threat to world peace.
The evil is the one that hangs gays, stones "adultery" women to death, treat non-muslim as secondary people and however it has signed NPT, is working hard to get nuclear weapons, to achieve what it publicly announced: erasing Israel from the map. Concerning your description of Israel, it is very narrow and even wrong for most of the points, but this is another subject, even if it is usually used (like you do) to justify the unacceptable.
in that case, the thief has already told the world several times that he is a thief and that he intends to wipe Israel out of the map. So should we ignore it ?
This sounds like he is ready to call up the IDF reserves and just needs political support for it. When will the IDF Navy be going to the Gulf to support the US Navy efforts there? The US is not all powerful and does not have an unlimited supply of ships and troops. Somebody has to step up too. If the IDF wants somebody to step up, why not the IDF?
Iran getting nukes is a world issue, not an exclusive Israel issue. The fact that Israel is as often on the first line, does not mean that it is not a problem of the whole free world that should be solved by the whole free world. Meantime and unfortunately, the IDF have a lot of other issues to deal with. But your question is a good one, just should it be slightly changed to "why not the german, french, russian, canadian, italian, ... armies?"
Great idea Mr. Kochavi! I shall forward your ideas to Mr. Khamenei.
It's pretty emotive language, but this isn't the Cold War. Hezbollah and Hamas don't have huge underground missile silos with pre-programmed ICBMs targetting Israel. People keep their missiles in stores. Iran might have a few big missiles, lined up ready for Israel, but it's not going to have 200,000 sitting waiting. So if he means 200,000 sitting in stores, how many does Israel have 'aimed' at its enemies, threatening them?
No harm,even less than theoretical should come to Their Exelellences Michaels from Londonstan ..but missiles in hands of wackos who had proved no compunction with firing them at Israeli population centers are Ok..
The UK has sent at least one ship to the Gulf. Where are the Swedes?
How is the investigation into whether the Swedish King was a closet Nazi going? You forget that Sweden lengthened the war by selling iron ore to the Germans for the exact length of time Auschwitz was in operation. Prehaps Pervidious Albion is a smokescreen for your own country's failings.
What on earth has the RAF intercepting Russian Bear bombers got to do with any of this?!!
RAF chieftains that vehemently opposed bombing the rails to the camp ,as "not to give impression to the troops that the war is about the Jews"
So if he believes more sanctions will prompt the leadership in Iran to pull back from the alleged development of Nuclear weapons because " the regime, interested first and foremost in its own survival" then that would make them the ideal candidate for a MAD deterrence. Meaning...that if you believe Sanctions will work, then you also believe them having Nukes wouldn't mean they'd use it to attack Israel. Or anyone else for that matter. I love how some people try to have it both ways.