Israel To Strike Iran If No Sanctions - Ex-Deputy Defense Min


SEPTEMBER 16, 2009
By Benoit Faucon
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES


LONDON (Dow Jones)--Israel will attack Iran if the U.S. fails to impose effective new sanctions over its nuclear program, a former Israeli deputy defense minister said Tuesday.

In an interview with Dow Jones Newswires, Ephraim Sneh said "whether the U.S. take the decision to embark on crippling sanctions or Israel is in the corner and we are compelled to take an action."

Asked if this action could be sabotage, Sneh said "a military action" without elaborating.

The six world's biggest powers - the U.S., U.K., Russia, France, China and Germany- have given Iran a late September deadline for holding talks over its nuclear program.

A presidential aide said Wednesday that Iran wouldn't tolerate threats from world powers when they discuss Tehran's package of nuclear proposals on Oct. 1.

But Sneh said: "If they by weakness and by stupidity allow the bomb, we have no choice." "We can't allow them to continue. It's urgent," he said.

The U.S., the European Union and Israel fear Iran is secretly developing nuclear weapons, but Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.

Sneh said "the economic situation of Iran is a golden opportunity" to make new sanctions effective.

Existing sanctions restricting foreign oil investment in Iran have been compounded by lower crude prices, putting Iran's budget under pressure.

Sneh said the views represented his personal assessment as a former deputy defense minister who was also in charge of Iranian affairs - and not those of the Israeli government.

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-200 ... 07494.html