Israel warns Iran on N-weapons

Conal Urquhart in Jerusalem

Monday December 22, 2003

The Guardian

The Israeli defence minister, Shaul Mofaz, has warned Iran that Israel may take military action to destroy its nuclear capabilities.

Speaking on Israeli radio in Farsi to an Iranian audience, the Iranian-born Mr Mofaz said that if the need arose to destroy Iran's capability, "the necessary steps will be taken". Iran has been trying to develop a nuclear capability for about 18 years and scientists believe that next year it will reach the point where it can manufacture a nuclear weapon without outside assistance.

While Israeli politicians are divided on how to deal with their problems with the Palestinians, there is a cross-party consensus that Iran cannot be allowed to have nuclear weapons.

Ephraim Sneh, a Labour MP, wrote this month: "If Iran approaches the point of no return, Israel will confront several tough alternatives. Acquiescing in the possession of nuclear weapons by those who vow to erase Israel from the map is not one of those options."

� A six-year-old Palestinian boy was shot dead yesterday when Israeli soldiers opened fire at stone-throwers in a West Bank refugee camp, Palestinian medics said.

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