Knesset Member Yuval Shteinitz, who chaired the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee until this year, commented with concern this morning on what may be the new U.S. policy on Iran.
Asked during his Senate confirmation hearings if he thought that President Ahmadinejad was "kidding" in his Holocaust denial and calls to destroy Israel, Gates said, "No, I don't think he's kidding. But I think that there are, in fact, higher powers in Iran than the president. And… while they are certainly pressing, in my opinion, for a nuclear capability, I think that they would see it in the first instance as a deterrent. "
Gates also broke with tradition by asserting that Israel has nuclear capabilities. Explaining Iran's need for deterrence, Gates said that Iran is "surrounded by powers with nuclear weapons - Pakistan to their east, the Russians to the north, the Israelis to the west, and us in the Persian Gulf."
In response to another question, Gates said that no one can provide Israel with an assurance that Iran would not attack Israel with a nuclear weapon. He said that he would favor an American attack on Iran only "if critical American interests are threatened" and "as a last resort."
"The claim that Iran is developing nuclear weapons for defense and deterrence purposes is not compatible with Iran's declaration about wiping Israel off the map," Shteinitz said. Making such claims, he said, "is liable to harm the attempts to stop Iran's nuclear program."
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said this week that Iran will complete its nuclear research and development work by March 2007. Iran plans to soon expand its atomic work by installing 3,000 uranium-enriching centrifuges, enabling it to produce at least one warhead a year.
Gates also said at the hearings that he favors open dialogue with Syria and Iran, as called for in the recent Baker-Hamilton report, but said he has no positive expectations regarding Iran. U.S. President Bush has opposed talking with Iran, but is now expected to go along with the idea.
Israeli security elements view Gates's remarks with alarm. Yediot Acharonot defense commentator Alex Fishman says they feel that Iran has won the latest round of arm-twisting against the U.S., that Iran can confidently continue its nuclear program without fear, and that Iran's influence in the region is increasing while that of the U.S. is declining. Hamas, too, feels this way, and has hardened its stance regarding a national unity government with Fatah and the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.
An editorial in the English-language daily Jerusalem Post stated that Gates's remarks are These are "shocking responses... for what they reveal about the thinking of the man poised to become the top defense adviser of the president of the United States. Gates's first instinct when asked about Iran's potential nuclear capability is not to explain why he views such a prospect as inimical to US interests, but why it might not be such a dangerous thing. Gates assures us that although Ahmadinejad may be wacko, his Iranian leadership higher-ups have got to be more responsible... [and] if this sunny analysis is wrong and Iran lobs a weapon of mass destruction at Israel? Well, that's a risk that Gates seems willing to take."
Asked during his Senate confirmation hearings if he thought that President Ahmadinejad was "kidding" in his Holocaust denial and calls to destroy Israel, Gates said, "No, I don't think he's kidding. But I think that there are, in fact, higher powers in Iran than the president. And… while they are certainly pressing, in my opinion, for a nuclear capability, I think that they would see it in the first instance as a deterrent. "
Gates also broke with tradition by asserting that Israel has nuclear capabilities. Explaining Iran's need for deterrence, Gates said that Iran is "surrounded by powers with nuclear weapons - Pakistan to their east, the Russians to the north, the Israelis to the west, and us in the Persian Gulf."
In response to another question, Gates said that no one can provide Israel with an assurance that Iran would not attack Israel with a nuclear weapon. He said that he would favor an American attack on Iran only "if critical American interests are threatened" and "as a last resort."
"The claim that Iran is developing nuclear weapons for defense and deterrence purposes is not compatible with Iran's declaration about wiping Israel off the map," Shteinitz said. Making such claims, he said, "is liable to harm the attempts to stop Iran's nuclear program."
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said this week that Iran will complete its nuclear research and development work by March 2007. Iran plans to soon expand its atomic work by installing 3,000 uranium-enriching centrifuges, enabling it to produce at least one warhead a year.
Gates also said at the hearings that he favors open dialogue with Syria and Iran, as called for in the recent Baker-Hamilton report, but said he has no positive expectations regarding Iran. U.S. President Bush has opposed talking with Iran, but is now expected to go along with the idea.
Israeli security elements view Gates's remarks with alarm. Yediot Acharonot defense commentator Alex Fishman says they feel that Iran has won the latest round of arm-twisting against the U.S., that Iran can confidently continue its nuclear program without fear, and that Iran's influence in the region is increasing while that of the U.S. is declining. Hamas, too, feels this way, and has hardened its stance regarding a national unity government with Fatah and the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.
An editorial in the English-language daily Jerusalem Post stated that Gates's remarks are These are "shocking responses... for what they reveal about the thinking of the man poised to become the top defense adviser of the president of the United States. Gates's first instinct when asked about Iran's potential nuclear capability is not to explain why he views such a prospect as inimical to US interests, but why it might not be such a dangerous thing. Gates assures us that although Ahmadinejad may be wacko, his Iranian leadership higher-ups have got to be more responsible... [and] if this sunny analysis is wrong and Iran lobs a weapon of mass destruction at Israel? Well, that's a risk that Gates seems willing to take."