Israel threatens to do anything to stop Iran’s N-plan

[Machoman]

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates reassured Israel that the new Obama administration was not naive about Iran’s intentions, and that Washington would press for new, tougher sanctions against the Iranians if they balk. He didn’t say what those might include.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak used a brief news conference with Gates to insist three times that Israel would not rule out any response — an implied warning that it would consider a pre-emptive strike to thwart Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

‘We clearly believe that no option should be removed from the table,’ Barak said. ‘This is our policy. We mean it. We recommend to others to take the same position, but we cannot dictate it to anyone.’

The question of how to deal with Iran’s rapid nuclear advancement has become a notable public difference between the new administrations in Jerusalem and Washington, despite overall close relations. Israel considers itself the prime target of any eventual Iranian bomb.

Obama says he has accepted no such thing. Still, the United States argues that an Israeli attack against Iran would upset the fragile security balance in the Middle East, perhaps triggering a new nuclear arms race and leaving everyone, including Israel and Iran, worse off.

Gates emphasised areas of agreement with Israel, including that the offer of talks with Iran must not be open-ended.

Later, in neighbouring Jordan, Gates was blunt in describing what Iran might expect if it refuses the offer of international arms control talks this year, or walks away from Obama’s wider offer of better relations with Washington.

‘If the engagement process is not successful, the United States is prepared to press for significant additional sanctions,’ Gates said. He added that the US would try to abandon the current policy of gradual international pressure, where layers of generally mild sanctions have been added each time Iran has flouted international demands.

‘We would try to get international support for a much tougher position,’ Gates said.
‘Our hope remains that Iran would respond to the president’s outstretched hand in a positive and constructive way, but we’ll see.’

Gates’ brief stop in Israel was part of a parade of top Washington officials visiting Israel this week, with Iran and the expansion of Jewish settlements on Arab land the main topics. In each case, the Obama administration is taking a harder line with Israel than the positions taken by President George W. Bush.

Obama’s special Mideast envoy, former Sen. George Mitchell, was the first US official to arrive, largely to discuss US-Israeli differences over the settlements.

Gates will be followed on Wednesday by National Security Adviser James Jones and his deputy, Mideast and Iran specialist Dennis Ross, both expected to press for Israeli cooperation on Iran.

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