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Israel Hints at Military Action Against Iran
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=10B0488:3919ACA Defense Minister
Shaul Mofaz says international diplomacy must be first course of
action





Shaul Mofaz  Israel is threatening to launch a pre-emptive strike
against Iran's nuclear program.

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has hinted that Israel is preparing for
military action against Iran's nuclear facilities.

"Israel cannot accept an Iranian nuclear capability and it must defend
itself, with all that that implies," Mofaz said. "We are preparing,"
he added.

But Mofaz said international diplomacy must be the first course of
action. He welcomed the U.S.-led effort to bring Iran before the U.N.
Security Council, saying sanctions and international oversight of
Iran's nuclear program are the "correct policy at this time."

Israel has expressed growing alarm about Iran's nuclear program since
late October, when the Iranian president called for the Jewish state
to be "wiped off the map." Israeli spokesman Mark Regev says the U.S.
and Europe must move more quickly to prevent Iran from acquiring the
atom bomb.

"The combination of a regime with a very radical agenda, put together
with nuclear weapons, I think that is a combination, a dangerous
combination that no one in the international community can accept,"
said Regev.

The Israeli air force destroyed the Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981. And
Israeli officials have warned repeatedly that if diplomacy fails,
there is a military option.


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