Israel must prevent nuclear Iran "at all costs"

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Friday November 10, 2006

Jerusalem- Israel must be prepared to prevent Iran achieving nuclear weapons capability "at all costs," new Israeli Deputy Minister of Defence Ephraim Sneh said in comments published by the Jerusalem Post on Friday. Sanctions against Tehran would likely be ineffective, Sneh said, adding that he would welcome less declarations on the matter and more action to hinder a nuclear-armed Iran.

"I am not advocating an Israeli preemptive military action against Iran, and I am aware of all of its possible repercussions," Sneh stressed. "I consider it a last resort. But even the last resort is sometimes the only resort."

The deputy minister's comments were described by the Jerusalem Post as "the most dramatic comments to date by a senior government member on the threat posed by the Iranian nuclear programme."

Israel could not live under the permanent threat of nuclear destruction, Sneh said. The deputy said he feared that the majority of Israelis would in such a situation be unwilling to live in the country, and that Jews from all over the world would cease travelling there.

A nuclear-armed Iran would allow President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to "kill the Zionist dream without pushing a button," Sneh said. "That's why we must prevent this regime from obtaining nuclear capability at all costs."

A former IDF brigadier-general, Labour parliamentarian Sneh was appointed to the deputy defence portfolio October 25.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency