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M AY T H E E A RT H H E A R T H E WO R D S O F M Y M O U TH
November 11, 2011 | 14 Cheshvan 5772
Vol. 7, Iss. 40
www.JewishVoiceNY.com
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Israel and Iran Approach Brink of War as IAEA Sheds Light on Tehran’s True Nuclear Intent Attack on Iran more likely than diplomatic option, Says Peres Israeli President Shimon Peres, a political dove, said in an interview aired by Israel›s privately-owned Channel Two television last Saturday that an attack on Iran was becoming «more and more likely.» His comments came only days before a report by the UN›s International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna is due to be published and is expected to reveal in close detail the advances that Iran has made toward producing a nuclear weapon. On Sunday, Peres continued expounding upon his views regarding a direct Israeli confrontation against the apparent Iranian nuclear arms buildup. By Fern Sidman peaking to the Israeli media, Peres announced that, «The possibility of a military attack against Iran is now closer to being applied than the application of a diplomatic option. We must stay calm and resist pressure so that we can consider every alternative. I don›t think that any decision has already been made, but there is an impression that Iran is getting closer to nuclear weapons. The intelligence services of the different countries that are keeping an eye on Iran are worried and putting pressure on their leaders to warn that Iran is ready to obtain the nuclear weapon.» Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are in favor of launching an attack on Iran though the depth of their commitment and their opinion on the timing are not clear. According to combined news sources, it appears that Netanyahu will face staunch opposition to a proposed strike by both the Israeli cabinet, and more specifically the security cabinet, which are the only bodies authorized to make the final decision on such a matter. As for capability, the Israel Defense Forces is obviously engaged in preparations for the mission as evidenced in the recently successful test launch of a new, intercontinental ballistic missile called the Jericho III that is
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capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. In a joint one-week military exercise with Italy, six IAF squadrons consisting of 14 F-16 single and twin seater fighter planes took off from the Ramat David air base and were joined by Boeing craft for in-flight refueling. The Italian air force flew the advanced Eurofighter Typhoon, AMX, Panavia Tornado and F-16s. In response to Iran›s newest subterranean Fordo facility near Qom, the U.S. supplied Israel with GBU-28 bunker buster bombs in the third week of September. Foreign sources said the Jericho III ICBM has the capability of delivering a 750-kilo nuclear warhead to a distance of 7,000 kilometers and even further, if fitted with a smaller warhead. Western intelligence experts estimate that 42 missiles with conventional warheads are enough to seriously disable Iran›s main nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan and Arak. Sources say that the formal exposure of the scale of the Iranian nuclear program and its indictment by the International Atomic Energy Agency is intended to shock world opinion and thereby help U.S. President Barack Obama to go full steam ahead with such sanctions as international boycotts of Iranian fuel and the Iranian state bank. Tehran has warned that these sanctions would be deemed an act of war. Those who oppose an Israeli air strike on Iran speculate that it will complicate relations with Egypt, whose transitional govern-
Prime Minister Netanyahu (above) supports a preemptive strike against Iran, but will likely face staunch opposition by both his cabinet and the Ministers Committee on Security Affairs which are the only bodies authorized to make such a decision. Inset: The IDF has been preparing for a possible attack as evidenced recently by the successful test launch of an upgraded version of the Jericho III intercontinental ballistic missile, which is capable of delivering a conventional or nuclear payload.
ment is less hostile to Iran than Mubarak›s regime was, and will also jeopardize the peace with Jordan, whose territory Israeli planes might cross. In response, an attack will draw Iranian missiles and massive rocket volleys by Hezbollah and Hamas, and Syrian President Bashar Assad also may choose to join the fray in an attempt to suppress his country›s popular uprising. The proponents of an attack point to Israel›s bombing of the Iraqi reactor in 1981 by then Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin who acted against the advice of many top defense personnel and politicians and was ultimately proven correct. Saddam Hussein›s lack of nuclear weapons facilitated the American campaign in the two Gulf wars. In 1981, however, Israel did not coordinate the attack with the United States, as there was no American military presence along the attack route. Meanwhile, Iran faced mounting pres-
In this week’s Education Issue: •
Israeli Students Attending American Universities Receive Advocacy Training in NYC (p. 9)
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Touro Hosts Homeland Security Seminars for Students, Faculty, and Staff (p.10)
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Online Learning Program Helps College Students Expand Their Knowledge of Personal Finance (p. 21)
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Global Day of Jewish Learning Bring World Jewry Together (p.14)
•
New York City Offers Exciting Variety of Educational Opportunities from a Wide Variety of Institutions (p.41)
sure over its nuclear ambitions this month when France and China issued separate pleas to Teheran. On Friday, November 4, French president Nicholas Sarkozy condemned Iran›s «obsession» with developing a nuclear capability, and said any attempt to engineer atomic weapons was a clear violation of all international rules. Though he appeared to rule out any imminent military campaign, he said France would be prepared to act if Israel was under threat. «France will not stand by with arms crossed,» he said. China also urged the Iranians to be less confrontational and said the regime needed to co-operate fully with the IAEA. It was time for Iran to show flexibility and sincerity, an official said. Sarkozy›s comments appeared to differ with those of French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe who warned that an attack on Iran Continued on page 11
And much, much more!