VIDEO - Former Israeli Defense Minister and current Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz warned on Sunday that Iran's
nuclear capabilities are progressing and that once they are achieved the Islamic Republic's intentions will be realized.
"(Iranian President) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad believes he was sent by divine supervision," he told the Herzliya Conference. "I am the last one to call him crazy… Although I am not trained in psychology, it is clear to me that we are dealing with a man driven by radical ideology, who is determined to complete his mission."
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| Watch live broadcast of Herzliya Conference |
Addressing the possibility of an Iranian revolution, Mofaz said: "This coming February will mark 28 years for the Islamic revolution. I am sure that if we go to the Iranian public today and ask them 'is this what they hoped for,' the answer would be negative.
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"Iran is having difficulties solving its financial and social problems. Iran is a country that is no stranger to civil revolutions," he said. "The Iranian nation took its fate into its own hands more than once, and maybe the change will come from within."
Mofaz ended his speech with a direct appeal to the audience, saying: "I hope you return to your capitals with a clear conclusion – the world cannot afford to ignore and be indifferent to Iran's attempts to achieve nuclear weapons. The world cannot say 'we didn’t know'… you must leave here with the understanding that strong words are not enough, we need action."
Mofaz also commented on IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz's resignation,
saying that "Halutz's decision was a very brave and responsible one."
"IDF is a strong army. There is no stronger army in the Middle East, and in the last war the IDF soldiers showed courage. They are the best," he added.
He also defended Israel's intelligence officials against accusations that the failures of the second Lebanon war were
due to lack of awareness.
Mofaz emphasized that they were very aware of the scope of armament in southern Lebanon, and therefore were able to destroy the weaponry in a short period of time.
"Intelligence officials tell us today that Iran is renewing the flow of weapons. We must prepare required response," he summed up.
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