Gary Fitleberg, December 28, 2003

Israel Radio denied that the country’s Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Israel might attack Iran’s nuclear installations.

Israeli media reported last week that Mofaz had told an Israel Radio program in Farsi on Dec. 15 that Israel would consider attacking Iran’s nuclear installations if international inspections failed to stop the Islamic regime from developing nuclear weapons. The report elicited counter-threats from Iran.

However, Israel Radio on Wednesday released a transcript of the program showing that, in response to an Iranian listener’s question, Mofaz said that if "Iran obtains nuclear weapons and threatens to use them against the State of Israel, the State of Israel will know how to defend its citizens without harming Iranian citizens."

"The minister’s remarks contained no statement that could be interpreted as indicating aggressive intentions toward Iran on the nuclear -- or any other -- issue," the station said.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2003 Gary Fitleberg