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Livni - 'Time is of the essence'
Photo: Gil Yohanan

Livni: Military option against Iran – on the table

'Weakness can be interpreted as acceptance. In this region you either go up against the neighborhood bully or you join him,' foreign affairs minister tells Knesset committee

"Iran must understand that the threat of military action exists, and it won't be taken off the table. Perhaps the clearer that point is made, the chance it will indeed be used will grow smaller – but it must remain on the table," Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni said on Tuesday at the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense

Committee.

 

Livni, who is acting prime minister as Ehud Olmert is currently in Washington, said Iran's movements must be restricted without delay. "Time is of the essence. Weakness can be interpreted as acceptance. We are making it clear to the officials we come into contact with that in this region you either go up against the neighborhood bully - or you join him, and the world will be judged on its actions," she said.

 

Livni also addressed efforts to recruit the international community in the fight against Iran. "We've made it clear that D-Day isn't the day they procure the bomb or have the technology, but now. Inability or hesitation or act against Iran creates an image of weakness within Iran. The enrichment of uranium continues and the international condition for engaging them is the cessation of that enrichment – Israel is working to ensure the international community continues to insist upon this condition against international figures trying to drum up support for other ideas."

 

As for voices in the Arab world speaking out against Iran's armament attempts, Livni said: "There still remain moderates in the Arab world who stay perched on the fence, discussing whether they can tolerate a nuclear Iran.

 

"These are countries that are directly threatened by Iran, some of them even share borders with it, countries where Iran is trying to destabilize their regimes. There is a broad gap between what these countries are saying behind closed doors and their willingness to act or even just discuss the matter in public."

 

Livni said Israel was aware that talks with moderates in the Palestinian Authority will have little immediate

affect on the situation in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

 

"There needs to be another answer for Gaza. Gaza has become an obstacle even for those pragmatists (in the PA) who wish to see a Palestinian state established, which the Gaza Strip is supposed to be a part of," she said.

 

Olmert is expected to raise the Iranian nuclear issue with US administration officials during his visit.

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.03.08, 15:03
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