Olmert says nuclear attack not imminent

In his most detailed speech on Iran, Olmert said: "I'm going to give you a situation analysis on the Iranian threat. There is not one among us that does not feel the threat, which is not only against Israel, but also against the whole region."

"There is no near threat of a nuclear attack on Israel," Olmert said. "At the stage we are in, there is still time - though not unlimited amounts, to stop Iran from going nuclear... We are not apathetic. We can't afford to be apathetic. We are addressing the Iranian threat."

Olmert discussed options which were being prepared "in case these diplomatic efforts don't help," adding: "The central goal, we must realize, is ahead of us. For years, we have been monitoring Iran's efforts to gain nuclear weapons, under the guise of a civil energy program.

"The Jewish nation is scarred with the Holocaust, and won't allow itself to again face a threat to its existence. In the past, the world was silent, and the outcome is known. Our role is to refrain from making this mistake again," he declared.

"When the leader of state publicly announces his intentions to wipe a country off the map, and is busy creating the weapons to do so… we must act with all force against the plot," Olmert added.

'Iranian threat a top priority'

"We have nothing against Iranian people. We are not the enemy of the Iranian people, Olmert said. "Our desire for peace should not be seen as weakness but source of strength. Those who threaten our existence, (should know) we have the ability to defend ourselves. We won't endanger the lives of our nation. We have the right to fully act to defend our vital interests. We won't hesitate to act. No one should confuse our restraint with hesitancy to act.

"There is no force in the world that can destroy us, and neither will there be one. We refuse to be dragged into atmosphere of fear. We have much strength and nothing to fear, and we won't fear. We can stand against nuclear threats, and thwart them," the prime minister stated. 

Olmert at Herzliya Conference (Photo: Uri Porat)

Olmert noted Iran's support for Palestinian terrorism, terrorism in Iraq, Hizbullah, and Hamas, the latter "showing to many the severity of the Iranian threat."

He called for a united front against Tehran to include the UN and Arab states, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan.

Discussing his recent trip to China, Olmert said "the Iranian threat was a top priority and central to all meetings. There was unequivocal agreement that Iran can't be allowed to have nuclear weapons, or the materials needed to make them."

"It's clear to everyone that a diplomatic solution to the Iranian issue is preferred," Olmert said. "It's the solution preferred by us… Whoever believes that the diplomatic solution is preferable must now start pressuring Iran…"