Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Financial Times
June 7, 2008 By Tobias Buck and Daniel Dombey
A senior member of the Israeli government has stated that an attack on Iran is becoming “unavoidable” if Tehran is to be stopped from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The blunt warning that Israel’s government is ready to strike at its chief rival in the region was given by Shaul Mofaz, transport minister and a deputy prime minister, in a press interview published Friday.
He said: “If Iran continues with its programme for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack it. The sanctions are ineffective.”
The Iran-born Mr Mofaz added that “attacking Iran, in order to stop its nuclear plans, will be unavoidable”.
The remarks by Mr Mofaz, a former military chief of staff and ex-defence minister, reflect rising concerns in Israel and the US over Iran’s nuclear programme. But they are also made against the backdrop of a fierce succession struggle in Israel’s governing Kadima party. Mr Mofaz is positioning himself as an uncompromising defender of the country’s security interests.
Ehud Olmert, the prime minister and current Kadima leader, is facing intense pressure to resign over an investigation into allegations that he accepted illegal funds from a US Jewish businessman. His troubles have set off a race among senior Kadima officials to succeed him both as party leader and prime minister.
Tzipi Livni, the foreign minister and the figurehead for Kadima’s centrist wing, is widely seen as the frontrunner, with the hawkish Mr Mofaz emerging as her main rival. Mr Mofaz has a reputation for being a hardliner on security matters and is relying strongly on his military experience to win the backing of Kadima members.
Meanwhile, Mr Olmert issued a tough warning on Friday to Hamas, a main ally of Iran. The Palestinian Islamist group rules the Gaza Strip, from where it and other militant organisations regularly fire rockets on nearby Israeli towns. One rocket killed an Israeli man this week.
Mr Olmert said: “According to the information we have now, the pendulum is closer to a decision to embark on a harsh operation in the Gaza Strip than it is to an agreement with the terror organisations.”
Israel’s prime minister returned Friday from a trip to Washington, where his meetings with senior US officials were held amid increasing speculation that the Jewish state favoured a military strike on Iran.
Washington continues to back the current international diplomatic strategy based on sanctions and an offer of greater co-operation if Iran reins in its nuclear programme.
However, frustration with the current approach is growing in Washington. Many diplomats believe that Iran will reject or ignore an offer due to be made to Tehran next week by Javier Solana, the European Union’s foreign policy chief.
They also discount the prospects of a new round of United Nations sanctions this year, largely because of Russia’s reluctance to back measures while President George W. Bush is still in office in Washington.
The near impasse has been reached as Iran proceeds to build up its capacity for uranium enrichment, a process which can produce both nuclear fuel and weapons-grade material. Tehran insists its programme is purely peaceful.
June 7, 2008 By Tobias Buck and Daniel Dombey
A senior member of the Israeli government has stated that an attack on Iran is becoming “unavoidable” if Tehran is to be stopped from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The blunt warning that Israel’s government is ready to strike at its chief rival in the region was given by Shaul Mofaz, transport minister and a deputy prime minister, in a press interview published Friday.
He said: “If Iran continues with its programme for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack it. The sanctions are ineffective.”
The Iran-born Mr Mofaz added that “attacking Iran, in order to stop its nuclear plans, will be unavoidable”.
The remarks by Mr Mofaz, a former military chief of staff and ex-defence minister, reflect rising concerns in Israel and the US over Iran’s nuclear programme. But they are also made against the backdrop of a fierce succession struggle in Israel’s governing Kadima party. Mr Mofaz is positioning himself as an uncompromising defender of the country’s security interests.
Ehud Olmert, the prime minister and current Kadima leader, is facing intense pressure to resign over an investigation into allegations that he accepted illegal funds from a US Jewish businessman. His troubles have set off a race among senior Kadima officials to succeed him both as party leader and prime minister.
Tzipi Livni, the foreign minister and the figurehead for Kadima’s centrist wing, is widely seen as the frontrunner, with the hawkish Mr Mofaz emerging as her main rival. Mr Mofaz has a reputation for being a hardliner on security matters and is relying strongly on his military experience to win the backing of Kadima members.
Meanwhile, Mr Olmert issued a tough warning on Friday to Hamas, a main ally of Iran. The Palestinian Islamist group rules the Gaza Strip, from where it and other militant organisations regularly fire rockets on nearby Israeli towns. One rocket killed an Israeli man this week.
Mr Olmert said: “According to the information we have now, the pendulum is closer to a decision to embark on a harsh operation in the Gaza Strip than it is to an agreement with the terror organisations.”
Israel’s prime minister returned Friday from a trip to Washington, where his meetings with senior US officials were held amid increasing speculation that the Jewish state favoured a military strike on Iran.
Washington continues to back the current international diplomatic strategy based on sanctions and an offer of greater co-operation if Iran reins in its nuclear programme.
However, frustration with the current approach is growing in Washington. Many diplomats believe that Iran will reject or ignore an offer due to be made to Tehran next week by Javier Solana, the European Union’s foreign policy chief.
They also discount the prospects of a new round of United Nations sanctions this year, largely because of Russia’s reluctance to back measures while President George W. Bush is still in office in Washington.
The near impasse has been reached as Iran proceeds to build up its capacity for uranium enrichment, a process which can produce both nuclear fuel and weapons-grade material. Tehran insists its programme is purely peaceful.