A Nuclear-Belligerent Iran
Netanyahu: I Won't Allow Iran to Have a Nuclear Weaponby Elad Benari
During his speech at the AIPAC Policy Conference on Monday night, Prime Minister Binyamin stressed that he would never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
“Israel has exactly the same policy” as the United States when it comes to an Iranian nuclear weapon, said Netanyahu, adding, “The Jewish State will not allow anyone who seeks our destruction to achieve that goal. Some people refuse to acknowledge that Iran’s goal is to achieve nuclear weapons, but it enriches uranium to reach that goal.”
“If it looks like a duck, if it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, then what is it? That’s right, it’s a duck. But this time it’s a nuclear duck and it’s time the world starts calling the duck a duck,” he added to a round of applause.
Netanyahu said that President Barack Obama and most world leaders understand that Iran’s goal is to develop nuclear weapons and that its claims otherwise are false. He said some people are willing to accept a nuclear Iran, claiming that the Ayatollah regime would not be crazy enough to use such weapons.
“I promise you that as Prime Minister I will never gamble with the security of the state of Israel,” he said.
Iran has broken every international rule, including targeting embassies, hanging women, and sponsoring Syria’s crackdown on protesters, Netanyahu pointed out. He said that Iran supports Hamas, Hizbullah and terror groups around Africa.
“From terror on the skies and terror on the ground, Iran is responsible for the murder of hundreds if not thousands of Americans,” said Netanyahu.
“Iran works for Israel’s destruction each day, relentlessly,” he said. “This is how Iran behaves today without nuclear weapons. Think of how they’ll behave tomorrow with nuclear weapons. Iran will be more reckless and a lot more dangerous.”
It’s time to start talking about the cost of not stopping Iran, said Netanyahu, rather than talking about of the cost of stopping it.
One example of the high cost of not stopping Iran is that the oil prices will really rise if a nuclear-armed Iran starts blackmailing the world, he added. As well, a nuclear-armed Iran will cause Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other countries in the region to want and aim for nuclear weapons.
“With nuclear weapons, Iran could threaten all of us with nuclear terrorism,” he said. “Think about what it would mean to have nuclear weapons in the hands of those radicals who lead millions of people in chants of death to America and death to Israel.”
“For the sake of our prosperity, for the sake of our security and for the sake of our children – Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said.
He added the best thing would be for Iran to abandon its nuclear program peacefully, but noted that hasn’t happened yet. He said the diplomacy and sanctions against Iran have not worked.
“I appreciate President Obama’s efforts to impose even tougher sanctions against Iran, but unfortunately Iran’s nuclear program continues to run forward,” he said. “Israel has waited patiently for the diplomacy and sanctions to work. None of us can afford to wait much longer. As Prime Minister of Israel I will never let my people live in the shadow of annihilation.”
He dismissed calls by some that stopping Iran from getting the bomb would be more dangerous than letting it have the bomb, reminding the audience that in 1944 the U.S. refused to heed the call by the World Jewish Congress to bomb the Auschwitz concentration camp, claiming that “even more vindictive action than the Holocaust”, which killed six million Jews, could take place.
“The Jewish people are different today. We have a Jewish State and the purpose of the Jewish State is to defend the Jewish people,” said Netanyahu. “That is why Israel must always have the ability to defend itself, by itself, against any threats.”
He said Israel appreciates the alliance with the U.S. but said that “when it comes to Israel’s survival we must always remain the masters of our fate.”
Israel will continue to be the only place in the Middle East where minorities, including Arabs, enjoy full and equal civil rights, he said. “As prime minister of Israel, I will always protect Israel’s democracy. Always!”
ננסי פלוסי Nancy Pelosi
Mitch McConnell
More on this topic
Oil, U.S. Elections, May Put Brakes on an Iranian Strike - Journalist Asks: Is AIPAC for Liberals Only?
- Congress Ahead of Obama for Attacking Iran
- Maryland Rabbi: AIPAC Brings Jews and Non-Jews Together
- AIPAC Conf. Participant: I Hope Obama Fulfills His Promises
- Vice PM Shalom: Obama's Speech a Defining Moment
As published online at ArutzSheva, 6 March 2012
Labels: Iran, Israel, Technology, Terrorism, United States
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, March 06, 2012
<< Home