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Washington - Ambassador: Iran 'Nuke Would Wipe Israel Out in Seconds' R'L |
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Oren was speaking to The Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a forum at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado.
Oren said it was "very important" that the world keep its eyes open to what happens in Iran, referring to the post-election riots there and the possibility that a political shift might give birth to a more moderate and more accommodating regime in the country, but warned: "Everyone is waiting to see what will come out of this, but while we're waiting, while we're watching, the [nuclear] clock is ticking."
Asked about the current US policy on Iran, Oren said he wouldn't "second-guess" US President Barack Obama's next move, but expressed satisfaction that Obama's last statement was "very clear, very adamant" on the Iranian election, in his scathing criticism of the regime's crackdown against the civilian Iranian population following the contested election.
The ambassador pointed out there was a silver lining to recent events in Iran, in that "the events have unmasked to the world, to anybody who ever doubted, the true nature of this regime," which, he said, "would have no compunction about killing its own people, Jews, or Sunni [Muslims] alike."
Oren said he was certain Obama had "the best interests of the US and the interest of Israel at heart" when confronting the Iranian nuclear program but added that Israel was concerned mainly about the "timing and timeline" of such action.
Asked why it was so important for Jews to live in their own state, with Goldberg, himself an American Jew, musing that US Jews seem to enjoy a safer existence in America, Oren said that for the first time in 2,000 years, "Jews take responsibility" for both their successes and their failures. The establishment of the State of Israel, he said, transformed Jews "from passive actors in their history to active actors in their history."
He proudly remarked that statistically, Israel enjoys the second highest longevity rate in the world, bettered only by Japan, and urged US Jews: "Come to Israel and live long."
Oren jokingly added "you may have a Kassam rocket being launched once in a while but you'll be watching them for a long time."
Oren also tackled the current hot potato in US-Israel relations, Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
"I never said settlements are not an issue… but they're not the issue." He said Palestinian education was undermining any efforts Israel could make to bridge gaps between the sides. "Palestinians have to begin to end hatred, on their TV and in their textbooks," otherwise Jews and Palestinian Muslims will never be able to reach a middle ground.
Oren said Israel and the US were "working earnestly, ardently" to find a solution palatable to both sides regarding the settlements.
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Read Comments (11) — Post Yours »
1
Jul 04, 2009 at 10:13 PM Elections Have Consequences Says:
1. Rabos Machshovos B'lev Ish......
2. If he liked what the messiah is saying he better get himself a new translator.
3. Obama has his own best interest at heart based on all that he learned from his hate spewing preachers.
4. "... Palestinian education was undermining any efforts Israel could make to bridge gaps between the sides. Palestinians have to begin to end hatred, on their TV and in their textbooks..." THAT'S IT IN A NUTSHELL!! The problem is that no one cares about what the arabs yemach sh'mom v'zichrom do!
2
Jul 04, 2009 at 10:30 PM nu..nu... Says:
we should do it first
3
Jul 04, 2009 at 10:19 PM Chesky Says:
But remember, Israel, has the final strike, with their submarines. If Israel get a nuke flying thier way, you can bet they will take the entire middle east with them.
Iran will be a parking lot. and that is with 1 bomb, remember Israel has over 5000 ready to go missiles from under water, as well as from within arab countries already all setup.
4
Jul 04, 2009 at 10:37 PM Anonymous Says:
“ 1. Rabos Machshovos B'lev Ish......
2. If he liked what the messiah is saying he better get himself a new translator.
3. Obama has his own best interest at heart based on all that he learned from his hate spewing preachers.
4. "... Palestinian education was undermining any efforts Israel could make to bridge gaps between the sides. Palestinians have to begin to end hatred, on their TV and in their textbooks..." THAT'S IT IN A NUTSHELL!! The problem is that no one cares about what the arabs yemach sh'mom v'zichrom do!
”
What are you saying what has Obama to do with Iran’s ability to C’V use nuclear weapons against Israel, it seems to me that the ambassador had good words for the President handling of the election crisis, when the rightwing were in the states claimed that the president is not doing enough, as usual you sound like a “Millhouse”
5
Jul 05, 2009 at 12:57 AM Anonymous Says:
רבות מחשבות בלב איש ועצת ה' היא תקים
6
Jul 05, 2009 at 07:18 AM Anonymous Says:
Quoting a passuk is not all one has to do. Being activist in support for Yidden in Eretz Yisrael is part of being noseh ohl im chavero, lo sa'amod at dam reyecha, etc.
7
Jul 05, 2009 at 09:41 AM Five Towns Resident Says:
The Palestinians should be very concerned too. Nukes don't discriminate between Muslims and Jews. Any nuke that strikes Israel will kill numerous Palestinians as well as Israeli Arabs. Even if the blast doesn't kill them, the radiation will. Plus, you could also forget about a Palestinian state in the West Bank since that would be affected as well.
Palestinians should realize that an Iranian nuke threat against Israel is an attack on them, like it or not. Iran isn't a friend of the Palestinians.
If I'm Israel, I tell Iran and the rest of the Arab world that I have nukes pointed at Mecca, Medina and the Dome of the Rock. Any attack on Israel and the Arab world can kiss their top three holy sites goodbye forever.
8
Jul 05, 2009 at 09:28 AM Anonymous Says:
what does R'L mean? i can guess. but woudl like to hear the actual translation. thanks
9
Jul 05, 2009 at 12:34 PM Five Towns Resident Says:
“ what does R'L mean? i can guess. but woudl like to hear the actual translation. thanks ”
They stand for "Rachmana L'tzlan", roughly translated as "heaven help us".
10
Jul 05, 2009 at 02:51 PM Avrohom Abba Says:
Iran would not dare destroy Jerusalem, because it contains the dome of the rock, and it is also right next to all their favorite "victims" who give them excuses to hate Israel. In other words, Jerusalem is loaded with "palestinians."
11
Jul 05, 2009 at 06:52 PM Anonymous Says:
“ 1. Rabos Machshovos B'lev Ish......
2. If he liked what the messiah is saying he better get himself a new translator.
3. Obama has his own best interest at heart based on all that he learned from his hate spewing preachers.
4. "... Palestinian education was undermining any efforts Israel could make to bridge gaps between the sides. Palestinians have to begin to end hatred, on their TV and in their textbooks..." THAT'S IT IN A NUTSHELL!! The problem is that no one cares about what the arabs yemach sh'mom v'zichrom do!
”
2. He speaks a perfect English by the way - but point taken.