Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai addressed the controversial comments made by Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz several days ago in which he said that if Iran were to continue developing nuclear weapons – Israel would have no choice but to attack it.
"Cynical use of Israel's strategic affairs for internal partisan politics is very wrong and very grave. A wise man would, at this point, remain silent and leave security affairs to those charged with handling them," said Vilnai.
Defense officials and political pundits rounded on Mofaz after the thinly veiled threat saw light, accusing him of exploiting war jitters to advance his personal ambitions.
The remarks helped drive up oil prices by nearly 9% to a record $139 a barrel on Friday and drew a circumspect response from Washington, which has championed UN sanctions against Iran and only hinted force could also be a last resort.
Government officials rushed to clarify that Mofaz's statements "did not reflect policy" and "risked making it even harder for Israel to persuade more countries to step up their sanctions against Iran".
Asked about the flurry of criticism, Mofaz aide Talia Somech said he had spoken "out of his more than 40-year-long commitment to the national security of Israel ".
"We would like his statements to be taken at face value, and not be given alternative interpretations."
Mofaz has served as IDF chief of staff and minister of defense until Prime Minister Ehud Olmert pushed him to the sidelines and appointed him transport minister in a 2006 cabinet reshuffle.
Reuters contributed to the report
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