Israel calls Iran's president "very dangerous"

Reuters ^ | Fri Dec 9, 2005

[F14 Pilot]

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel called Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "very dangerous" on Friday after he expressed doubt that the Holocaust occurred and suggested the Jewish state be moved to Europe.

"This was not a misstatement or a passing remark," Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told Israel Radio. "It is a systematic way of thinking which is intended to bring about the annihilation of the state of Israel."

Ahmadinejad's comments drew quick international condemnation, as did his call in October for Israel to be "wiped off the map".

Asked whether Ahmadinejad could be compared to Libya's Muammar Gaddafi, once among Israel's most implacable foes, Shalom said: "I would not take him lightly. Such a statement ... displays a way of thinking which shows he is very dangerous."

Elaborating on Israel's concerns, Shalom said "Iran is now developing missiles which can reach the capitals of Europe" and urged that the matter be referred to the U.N. Security Council. Israel has accused Iran of trying to build nuclear weapons.

The Islamic republic says its nuclear project aims only to produce electricity, not weapons as Washington and others in the West suspect. Israel is widely believed to be the Middle East's only nuclear power.

Iran's official IRNA news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying on Thursday: "Some European countries insist on saying that Hitler killed millions of innocent Jews in furnaces ... Although we don't accept this claim."

"If the Europeans are honest they should give some of their provinces in Europe ... to the Zionists and the Zionists can establish their state in Europe," he said.

During their 1933-45 rule, the Nazis killed some six million Jews. Religious hardliners in Iran do not publicly deny the Holocaust occurred but say its scale has been exaggerated to justify the creation of Israel.

Israel accuses Iran of giving arms and funding to Palestinian militant groups such as Islamic Jihad, sworn to the destruction of the Jewish state.

Tehran calls Israel a "terrorist state" and has developed missiles which can reach it. It says it would use them if Israel tried to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities.

[alienken]

We need to give Isreal everything they need to launch the attack and then support them officially when it is over.

[son of caesar]

you know, this situation is like my best friend making me have a lion move in with me. of course the lion is crazed with hunger. next, my best friend will insist that i cannot protect myself from this lion, since its all my fault that the lion lives with me anyways. the house is israel, the friend is the usa and the lion? well, hes busy building nuclear weapons, just to help keep the peace mind you, nothing more.

[TheForceOfOne]

Iran is itching for an a$$ beating, and Israel may soon oblige.

[GregoTX]

"Tehran calls Israel a "terrorist state"....."

Israel is where the middle east terrorists come from? Iran calling Isreal a terrorist state is like the democraps saying the Republican party has the "culture of corruption".

[Reaganesque]

That's certainly the impression I'm getting. And the "Arab street" will once again do exactly nothing.

[traumer]

Naaah, he is just a clown.
Yearning for attention - like comrade KIM...

[Convert from ECUSA]

Stating the obvious - ping!

[Thermalseeker]

Do you know if Israel has the capability for air to air refueling? Seems like they'll be needing it shortly.....

[Convert from ECUSA]

Stating the obvious - ping!

[finnigan2]

"Do you know if Israel has the capability for air to air refueling? Seems like they'll be needing it shortly....."

- Unless something unexpected occurs, I think Israel will act sometime in 2006 to take out Iran's nuclear facilities. However, I have a hunch that it will not be done by air strike, only because that is what Iran expects and has been preparing for. I know that Israel acquired the US plans for the monster, "bunker buster" bomb over a year ago and I suppose if they dropped these from a very high altitude they might get away with a successful air strike, but I kind of think that they might go in with an SAS type team and take them out in a ground operation - if only because it would be more of a surprise to the Iranians.

[goldstategop]

I'm sure they would. Whether Israel's leaders intend to do more than bomb empty buildings remains to be seen.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[FunkyZero]

We already have my friend, and the political buildup has begun. It's only a matter of time before they (Isreal) pull the trigger. The military exercises with India and the US are being publicized for a good reason, it's called fair warning.
Of course, just my HO.

[mtntop3]

Haven't heard even a peep about Ahmadinejad's murderous words from those two splendid American defenders of Israel and keepers of the Holocaust Flame, "Mr. Go Pat..." and His Excellency Charley Reese

[SunkenCiv]

The Islamic republic says its nuclear project aims only to produce electricity, not weapons as Washington and others in the West suspect.

But of course, that's just a lie Iran's mullahcracy tells. Its resistance to inspection is on the grounds that they can do anything they want under international law, including developing nuclear weapons.