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Israel sees Cheney's remarks on Iran attack as warning to Europe
 Israeli officials said on Friday U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's comments about a possible Israeli strike on Iran was a message to Europe to take a tougher stance against Tehran's nuclear program. The comments came as European leaders sought to diffuse tensions, stressing that diplomacy would remain the strategy pursued. Cheney said on Thursday in an interview that there was concern Israel might attack Iran if it "became convinced the Iranians had significant nuclear capability" due to Tehran's stated goal to destroy the Jewish state. Israeli officials said Cheney's remarks were not aimed at Israel but were intended as a message to Europe to take a harder line with Iran over its nuclear and missile programs. "It was intended to tell the Europeans: 'If you don't take a greater role in a policy of implementing sanctions and moving vigorously to stop Iran's nuclear program, then we are not responsible for what Israel will do'," a senior official said.He added that Israel traditionally "followed the leadership of the U.S. regarding Iran" and supported international sanctions and pressure on Tehran to cease nuclear activities. "You look around the world at potential trouble spots, Iran is right at the top of the list," Cheney said Thursday in a radio interview, hours before he and Bush were sworn in to a second term. "We don't want a war in the Middle East if we can avoid it," Cheney added, "and certainly, in the case of the Iranian situation, I think everybody would best suited by, and or best treated or dealt with, if we could deal with it diplomatically." Posted by: Fred 2005-01-22 |
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