Lieberman: nuclear weapons in a few months only
צילום: ודים דניאל
Lieberman: Iran can develop nuclear weapons in little time
Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs responds to no-confidence motion over American NIE report: 'Israel is not standing idly by, never before has a government so focused on this problem'
"Transitioning from the civilian nuclear energy track to a military one is a matter of a few months only," Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Liberman told the Knesset Monday afternoon. Lieberman was responding to the position of the recently published American National Intelligence Estimate, which asserted that Tehran ceased developing nuclear weapons in 2003.
Liberman, reacting to a vote on a measure of no-confidence relating to the American report, remarked that if the Iranians so choose, it is in their power to develop nuclear weapons within a limited period of time. "That the Iranians continue on the civilian track at the moment gives us no rest, and we are considering the worst case scenario."
The no-confidence measure was put-forth by National-Union/NRP and United Torah Judaism, who denounced the "failure of foreign and defense policy and the Israeli strategic outlook, which contributed to the publication of the American NIE's position on the Iranian nuclear issue."
According to Uri Ariel, who represented the factions supporting the motion, "the publication of the NIE testifies to extent of the government's irresponsibility. They have promised us for years that the Americans will take care of the Iranian nuclear issue, but now it is clear that they have shirked responsibility for the issue. Blame for this screw-up falls even more strongly on Minister Lieberman as it is his paramount duty to guarantee coordination with the United States regarding this (threat)."
In response, Lieberman said that one must also read the "fine print" in the American report. "Unlike the Security Council's decision, (the report claims) that they are continuing to enrich Uranium. Is there another UN Member Nation in the world that so often declares its intention to destroy Israel?" Lieberman wondered aloud.
As is well known, many in Jerusalem were surprised by the findings of the NIE. "Iran will do anything to continue (developing nuclear technology) while attempting to confound the Western World," a senior political-defense source told Ynet. Regardless, Prime Minister Olmert is working to establish a temporary state of peace around the issue, after an unusual outburst from Minister Avi Dichter who warned of "another Yom Kippur (War) in our region."
No confidence motion an act of irresponsibility
The Strategic Affairs Minister called Iran "the foundation of the Axis of Evil" and said that full cooperation with the United States regarding Iran continues. "We are not just sitting on our hands. This government has many disadvantages, but never before has a government worked on this problem at such a fundamental level."
Lieberman claimed that the no-confidence motion bordered on "irresponsibility" and explained that he sees complete agreement on the issue. "If someone can turn the Iranian issue… into a political argument without even reading the NIE on the internet – because if he would have read it he would not speak such nonsense – this is a (perfect) example of irresponsibility."
In a veiled reference to Israel's struggle against regional nuclear programs, Lieberman said, "We have already proven that we know how to cope with problems of this sort. I do not know if this is true, but that is at least what they published abroad."
