VARIOUS: Israeli ambassador to the U.S. calls Iran the "most dangerous issue of our time."

Record ID: 401177

  • Title: VARIOUS: Israeli ambassador to the U.S. calls Iran the "most dangerous issue of our time."
  • Date: 7th February 2006
  • Summary: (BN02) GAZA (FILE) (REUTERS) HAMAS LEADER MAHMOUD ZAHAR VOTING IN PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS
  • Embargoed: 22nd February 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAA4D7IWUMEVT6Z5FUZUEA32EBP
  • Story Text: It has been a rough year so far for Israel. Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had to step aside because of failing health, Hamas won a surprising victory in the Palestinian parliamentary elections and Iran, which has called for the destruction of Israel, is under fire by the West for its nuclear ambitions.
    As the Iran issue heads to the UN, Israeli ambassador Daniel Ayalon summed up his concerns in an interview with Reuters on Monday (February 6, 2006).
    "They are hell-bent on acquiring nuclear capabilities and with the extremism of the regime, and with their support of terror, it is the most dangerous issue of our time." But can the UN effectively take on Iran? "I think so. I think that the referral to the security council was very timely. It was very important and I believe the security council will know how to handle it." Regarding Iran, U.S. President George W. Bush maintains that all options are still on the table. Some analysts have speculated Israel could strike Iran's nuclear facilities in the same way it did Iraq in the 1980s.
    "Well, I think it is premature to discuss that and I think it's the international community's role to deal with Iran," Ayalon said. As for the election of Hamas, the Israeli government has been clear on what it will take for the two parties to talk. "They have to renounce terrorism, they have to dismantle their terror infrastructure and disarm. And they have to accept Israel's legitimacy, Israel's right to exist and also all the agreements that have been reached so far. And also they should be accepting the two state solution which so far they are against," Ayalon said.
    While the Israeli's have balked at handing over funds to Hamas, the government appears to be looking for ways to dispense money. "The Israeli cabinet has just approved transferring the 50 million dollars to the Palestinians this month. We will continue to examine it on a monthly basis. There will be no money channelled or funnelled to Hamas, which is a terror organisation. But we will try to find a way to transfer moneys to the Palestinian population to avert any hardship - unnecessarily - or any humanitarian disaster from the Palestinians." At a time when protests have erupted across Asia and the Middle East over cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad, Ayalon was asked for his view, given the track record of anti-Israeli cartoons in the Arab world.
    "Well, I am very disappointed, I am shocked at the response. You mention correctly, Israel has been the subject of caricatures all the time and embassies were not burned in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv." Elections are expected to be held in Israel in March.
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