Russian General Vladimir Dvorkin told the Herzliya Conference on Wednesday that some in the West believe that Iran has already managed to obtain uranium on the black market, and that it is therefore too late to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.
Iran is considered not only a nuclear threat, but also supports terrorist groups around the world. So said former IDF Chief of Staff and Likud candidate Moshe (Boogie) Yaalon at the same conference. “The Iranians support most of the terrorist elements around the world,” he said, “and without toppling their regime, we will not be able to defeat terrorism.”
With elections in Israel only six days away, party leaders are expressing strong opinions on the Iranian issue. Asked last week whether Israel might attack Iran, Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu said, “Iran will not arm itself with nuclear weapons - and this includes everything necessary to ensure that what I just said comes true.”
Yaalon said that an internal military revolution in Iran is very likely, “and this will take the wind out of the terrorists’ sails. It won’t happen unless Iran without international isolation and economic sanctions… Of course, it is not impossible that there will be a military conflict from without in order to bring down the regime.”
Lieberman: Triple Threat
Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman was asked by a Haaretz reporter what he thinks is the greatest strategic threat Israel faces, and said, “Iran, Iran, Iran. Iran threatens us three times. First, via Hamas and Hizbullah. Second, by getting international public opinion used to the idea that the world can survive without Israel. And third, with its nuclear power and ballistic missiles.”
“If we were a normal nation,” Lieberman continued, “we would stop bickering about the Palestinian issue and the Golan Heights, and we would deal with Iran. The day after the new government is elected here, it must tell the world, ‘We are currently not talking about the Syrians or the Palestinians, and you can all just take a hike. Until there is a solution for the Iranian problem, we are not dealing with settlements or settlers or anything else. Only after the source of the problem – Iran – is solved, will it be possible to talk about the symptoms of the problem in Judea and Samaria and the Golan.’”
Barak: More Sanctions
Labor Party leader Ehud Barak commented on Tuesday’s satellite launch by Iran: “This is a technological achievement for Iran, and a significant first step that proves its intelligence and military potential and ability. This is another reason for the international community to tighten and increase the sanctions on Iran.”