Israel says it will do anything to stop Iran from getting nuclear bomb

Iran has sworn to wipe Israel off the face of the map (to many it is their religious duty). They (Jews and Muslims) have been bitter enemies since the time of Abraham. Once Iran has nuclear weapons (just a matter of time), all it will take is a few people who are willing to "push the button". Sanctions will only delay the inevitable. Let Israel defend itself.

I think Israel has it right...Iran is an extremist state, and Israel has much to fear from them.

Really? is Israel willing to disappear off the face of the Earth to stop Iran getting the bomb?

I don't trust any country that has an "Islamic Revolution". That just sounds so dangerous.

I wouldn't trust any country that uses nuclear weapons. Let's see now ...

I wouldn't trust any country that uses nuclear weapons. Let's see now ..." So all weapons are ok?

No but some are worse than others. I suppose it all depends on which end of the weapon you're at. 'Conditions normal. Coming home'.

Doesn't Israel have nuclear weapons?

They (Jews and Muslims) have been bitter enemies since the time of Abraham.

That might be a bit difficult, since Islam wasn't founded until ~1000 years after Abraham.

I'm not an Israel defender but when their prime enemy - who has promised to destroy them - is trying to acquire nukes, what are they supposed to say and do? Sing happy songs and wish for peace?

Israel says it will do anything to stop Iran from getting nuclear bomb

Good to hear all the happy happy joy joy peaceful speeches coming from Israel.

But Israel may have forgotten something, this is not the 1980's and before. Missile technology has changed. Also warning an enemy that your going to attack if they build something you already have is a no no.

Why advertise what your going to do unless you will not do it.

If Israel launches it's nukes in an attempt to end Iran's nuke program. I do not think the United States could be able to save Israel from what would be coming.

I love how people come on here in all seriousness and don't see the hypocrisy in statements like, "Iran is an extremist state with the intention of wiping Israel off the map. Let Israel 'defend' itself (which includes a preemptive nuclear strike)".

That as opposed to Obama's, "Obama says he has accepted no such thing. Still, the United States argues that an Israeli attack against Iran would upset the fragile security balance in the Middle East, perhaps triggering a new nuclear arms race and leaving everyone, including Israel and Iran, worse off."

Wow... common sense rings so clearly; it's just amazing how thick some people's skulls are that they can't hear it. Israel nuking Iran off the plant is NOT 'defense', and it would definitely seal Israel's own destruction. Basically Israel is just pouting like a child that Obama's government isn't giving them carte blanche, like they've become accustomed to. I like how Barak had to tell Obama THREE TIMES!

Sensei,

You are misinformed! The Jews and Muslims was not always bitter enemies. The problem only began when Israel was created less than 100 years ago. Before that the Muslims and Jews who lived in the area were mostly peaceful friends and neighbors.

People have been using that misinformation as an excuse to not solve the problem.

biglittleman wins!

biglittleman hasn't really checked up about history.

At this point, as peace look impossible, I don't think we should saying who is right or wrong, but who would prefer to win.

What's really the problem with Iran and Israel?

The world won't miss Israel

The world won't miss Israel" Well, that's kind of similar to how the whole place got started and why they act the way they do.

skipthesong: "Well, that's kind of similar to how the whole place got started and why they act the way they do."

I believe The_True's comment was a somewhat gut reaction to another poster saying, "The world won't miss Iran" further up. You can argue whom would be missed less all you want, the eradication of either country is WRONG. You're right that the attitude above is something along the lines of what allowed Israel to exist as a state where it does in the first place, but it's not an excuse for them to do the same to someone else, and in particular then claim that if you don't side with them you are 'forgetting the past victimization of the Jews' and/or are an anti-Semite.

The past should never be repeated, and bombing another country in order to keep that past from being repeated is actually just repeating the past but reversing the roles. The only way to ensure peace is to make sure no nuking from either side occurs. That works best with dialogue, but so far BOTH sides have made it clear they are unwilling to budge in order to achieve it, so the US and other countries need to be firmer: drop any and all support to both parties until they resolve to make up some of their differences and seriously talk.

It's clear that Israel is 'upset' the new White House has chosen 'openness with Iran over agreement with Israel', but in my opinion that's because Israel is wrong on that issue -- or at least, they have to be willing to be more open themselves.

Iran is an extremist state

Right...And israel isn't???????

I also do want israel to give up their own nukes...then they might have the moral authority to lecture other countries on what's right and what's wrong.

They (Jews and Muslims) have been bitter enemies since the time of Abraham.

I think what you are trying to say is that the Jews,Persians, Egyptians, Philistines (which Palestinians claim to be but are not), Lebanese, Jordanians etc have had a volatile past.

They have each attacked each other through out history numerous times as peoples who worshiped multiple Gods to modern day Muslims. This has little to do with religion and more to do with the passing on of cultural knowledge through generations.

Thus Israel knows very well that the Persians are capable of invading and destroying their country yet again and obviously are very weary of Persian nukes. Its perfectly natural and reasonable for Israel to assume that the Persians will want to destroy them.

skipthesong - Did someone miss basic history in school? Jerusalem has been the holiest city in Judaism and the spiritual center of the Jewish people since the 10th century BC. That predates Islam by a little more than a couple of years. Post your address and I'll send ya a few bucks and you can sort out a history book for yourself.

Moderator: No history lessons please. Focus your comments on what is in the story.

then claim that if you don't side with them you are 'forgetting the past victimization of the Jews' and/or are an anti-Semite." A lot of groups claim that, its not a monopoly by Jews. You can disagree with Israel's reactions, but you can not claim that the country shouldn't be there. to me, saying that Israel should not be there is anti-Semite; why can't they have a homeland, especially one that small?

It's clear that Israel is 'upset' the new White House has chosen 'openness with Iran over agreement with Israel'" did it occur to you that instead of being upset that they just might be scared? Iran is very capable of "wiping" Israel even without Nukes. For a small group of people, who are surrounded by enemies thousands of bigger bigger than they, to have such a small piece of land, and then being called bigots, devils, whatnot, and then to be constantly threatened gives me full right to state that many are yelling because they are anti-Semitic. Also, when I hear Iran, who was not affected by the creation of Israel coming off they way they do and those who are raving for Iran are also anti-Semitic. If iran's hatred for Israel for the Palestinians, let's be clear that those people where not removed but moved by themselves. The west bank and Gaza would not even have been there had the Arabs collaborated together in trying to attack isreal in the first place and then losing and then crying about the land they lost and constantly pushing that to the side is to me anti-Semetic.

Honestdictator,

You have not done you homework about History. Have you read any good books?

Muslim, Christian and Jewish Palestinians lived in harmony with each from 70AD to the late 1800s when European Zionist entities inspired by Theodore Herzls 'The Jewish State' began to promote European Jewish migration to Palestine. This fact and others are well documented in the King-Crane Report commissioned by US President Woodrow Wilson in 1919.

Not to mention the point about Islam not being created until a 1000 years after Judaism. So they haven't been fighting since the time of Abraham.

frying monkey: Did someone miss basic history in school?" man, what's your point?

i also want them to give up their own nukes...then they might have the moral authority to lecture other countries on what's right and what's wrong." And I'd like to see most people in that part of the world to give up what they consider their Jihad, as they've been trying to get rid of them for a long time, before such a thing as Nukes came into play.

I just love the small snipes people take never really defending their positions.

If you believe that Israel is correct please make some sort of statement with facts same goes for those against Israel.

thepro at 11:06 AM JST - 28th July The world won't miss Iran

Why? They have a long and rich history with great gifts to our world. Why would they not be missed?

http://www.iranchamber.com/history/articles/ancient_medicine_mesopotamia_iran.php

The_True at 01:06 PM JST - 28th July The world won't miss Israel

Why? Just saying that makes no sense same as thepro making his.....More insight and less nothing would be great.

HonestDictator at 12:39 PM JST - 28th July biglittleman hasn't really checked up about history.

Actually he did very good and actually he gave more substance to his stance than you did.

Now can you tell us why you think he is wrong?

Many of the arguments here were really good, but whenever anyone says Israel and Iran in the same breath, well folks just lose it.

Come on more meat would be good in this argument.....

Like Bobbafett said, the fighting that has taken place had more to do with culture than religion.

This is counter productive. Iran is in a fragile condition now where opposition groups are raising the bar to change the country. It will not happen immediately. But it will happen. Patience is required and time is required.

As there is no evidence that the Iranian program is weapons related, I think threats simply contribute to upholding the existing rulers of Iran. Negotiation as Obama has suggested is the answer.

As for Israel. I believe their overall policies have only strengthened the will of their adversaries to wish them off the face of the earth. While opportunities to open dialogue have been lost.

In my opinion Israel has behaved much like an Apartheid system for many years. This combined with their settlement policy would have most of us up in arms if we were forced to trade positions with the Palestinians.

While I recognize Israeli's rights to have a secure and safe place to live, I am anti-zionist. And I share this view with many people who are in fact Jewish and not in favor of a Zionist state.

The solution to the region and to these conflicts is a unified shared single state that would tie the fate of Jews and Arabs alike in a single multi-cultured nation.

Until this is possible, I firmly believe that the US should threaten Israel with a clear message on this topic. "If you attack Iran you are on your own to deal with the consequences as we will no longer support you militarily or financially." "So back off and shut up so we can exercise a rational policy and make real change in Iran possible."

Honestdictator,

Muslim, Christian and Jewish Palestinians lived in harmony with each from 70AD to the late 1800s when European Zionist entities inspired by Theodore Herzls 'The Jewish State' began to promote European Jewish migration to Palestine. This fact and others are well documented in the King-Crane Report commissioned by US President Woodrow Wilson in 1919.

Not to mention the point about Islam not being created until a 1000 years after Judaism. So they haven't been fighting since the time of Abraham."

Moderator: Sorry, we have already that history lessons are not relevant. Please focus your comments on what is in the story.

I think Israel can live in peace with Iran. I don't think Iran can leave in peace with Israel.

I don't think Iranian people want to do anything bad to Israel. I doubt the average Iranian gives Israel much serious thought.

Governments always go about pointing fingers and thumping their chests. But like animals they should be taken only a seriously as their actions. And Iran has not done anything to truly threaten Israel that Israel has not done to threaten Iran.

Boths sides should cool off.

The solution to the region and to these conflicts is a unified shared single state that would tie the fate of Jews and Arabs alike in a single multi-cultured nation." I take you've never been there, have you? I find Israel very much open to diversity. You'll see Jews marring secular Muslims and not forcing them to convert, you'll see African Jews, Arab Christians and Jews, Orientals, all walks of nationalities and races and all having a good time together, especially in Haifa.

I doubt the average Iranian gives Israel much serious thought." That I can agree on. Its leaders of the country and that is usually the case in almost every conflict. The Average Israeli is not a Zionist just as much as the average Iranian is not an Islamic cleric disciple.

And Iran has not done anything to truly threaten Israel that Israel has not done to threaten Iran." Well, how do you personally take a threat, Do you wait for it to happen? You might not have too many chances, at least not at this level.

skip: "You can disagree with Israel's reactions, but you can not claim that the country shouldn't be there. to me, saying that Israel should not be there is anti-Semite; why can't they have a homeland, especially one that small?"

Are you misdirecting again? Where and when did I say that Israel should have no homeland? They do, and they should. And if it's where they want it to be, that's fine, so long as they don't try to seize any more. I think EVERYONE should have a homeland. In fact, I also think the Palestinians should have one too. Don't you?

"did it occur to you that instead of being upset that they just might be scared? Iran is very capable of "wiping" Israel even without Nukes."

Good point. Maybe Kim Jong Il is scared. Should we give him carte blanche to do as he chooses against whomever he chooses? I realize that's a very unrelated comparison, but you catch my drift -- if Israel is indeed 'scared' it's all the more reason to seek a peaceful resolution, not to engage in bombast and going against their main support group (the US). What's more, simple fear is no reason to support someone.

"A lot of groups claim that, its not a monopoly by Jews."

True, but not to the same extent -- or at least, the Jews know the extent to which they could take advantage. For example, imagine if they DID suddenly decide to nuke Iran. What SHOULD the reaction by the world be? Outright condemnation, a cut to ALL support AS WELL AS outright sanctions of everything. A demand that the government give up and be tried for war crimes, etc. But these are the Jews we are talking about. Some would STILL be against giving up all support and leaving them to the consequences because it would be 'like before'. Israel is depending on that sympathy, and if the sympathy is not forthright they depend on the anti-Semite card and history.

Someone pointed out before that they should all just sit down and watch 'Don't Mess With the Zohan' or whatever the Adam Sandler movie is called and just chill out.

I agree with the comments above that this is mostly just the leaders fudging every thing up. And I also agree with skip that it's always that way.

When Israel says they'll do anything to keep Iran from getting nukes you should believe them. Regardless of my feelings on the foot dragging for a two state solution the Israeli's are tough. If you really think Israel wouldn't bomb Iran in a pre-emptive strike your fooling yourself. The mullahs in Iran should think this one through a bit before they end up in a war against Israel that would probably end up toppling them from power.

tkoind2: And Iran has not done anything to truly threaten Israel

Well they train and fund terrorist groups who kill Israeli innocents. But besides that, nothing really.

This is the scoop: One more time. Iran does not have a nuclear weapon.

Iran is not building a nuclear weapon. The available evidence shows that they stopped their fledgling program in 2003.

What Iran is building is a nuclear power station, which they are legally allowed to do under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, which both Iran and the United States have signed. Under article IV of the NNPT the United States is obligated to assist Iran in building their power station.

Even if Iran had a nuclear weapon they are not a threat either to the United States, which has thousands of warheads, or to Israel, which has at least 200.

Iran has not invaded anyone for 200 years.

In contrast ...

Israel has nuclear warheads, which they build in a no-longer-secret lab underneath the Dimona Reactor. Israel has never signed the NNPT and does not permit inspections of its facilities by the IAEA. Israel is constantly invading their neighbors.

Israel made the same accusations about Iraq just prior to bombing the power station at Osirik. Subsequent inspections following the 2003 invasion confirmed there was no clandestine weapons factory at the site. Israel's claims that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction were likewise totally false.

Who is the problem child of the Middle East? It ain't Iran, that's for sure.

I don't think Iranian people want to do anything bad to Israel. I doubt the average Iranian gives Israel much serious thought.

I guess you must of missed those "Death to Israel! Death to America!" rallies.

Personally I very much doubt 'Israel' will go it alone and bomb yet another sovereign nation (Iran).

Israel would do the bombing by proxy using the US. This way the 'Jews' will appear to have no blood on their hands - as far as the TV-watching peons are concerned anyway.

The reason Iran hasn't been bombed thus far is because other methods to achieve control over Teheran haven't quite been abandoned yet. Israelis covertly infiltrating and supporting dissident groups within Iran are proving incapable of operating with sufficient stealth and though their destabilising efforts are not without successes, the Jewish agents operating in Iran are apparently being found and dealt with, so overt military action is becoming the only option remaining.

The obstacle to getting their US supporters (The whole government there + the media) - is persuading the Americans to accept that they must do it based on fomenting a reaction through inferred guilt or otherwise twanging the bleeding-hearts' harp-strings. aaThis is becoming increasingly difficult as more and more US citizens (and others) are awakening to the obvious fact that the wars in the M.E. (in particular) are not at all in anyone's interest other than those who have a vested interest in 'Israel.'

Will it be another false-flag operation? A dirty-nuke in Washington and they find an Iranian passport intact at ground-zero?

The government of Iran commits acts of war against ISrael funding terrorist groups in Gaza and the west bank and giving them rockets to launch at Israel. If any nation indirectly caused 8000 rockets to be launched at any other nation there would be no debating the concequences of a military action against them.

LIBERTAS

Israel made the same accusations about Iraq just prior to bombing the power station at Osirik.

Israel did the world a favor when they took out Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981. It's appears they're going to do the world another favor by taking out Iran's nuclear facilities. When they're done, thank them.

Israel has nuclear warheads

They've had them for half a century now. How many times have they used them, despite multiple wars by Muslim Arabs who want the "Infidel" state eliminated? Israel has proven to be a responsible nuclear nation. Iran, on the other hand, exports terrorism through Hezbollah and Hamas.

LIBERTAS: Iran is not building a nuclear weapon.

The head of the IAEA says he believes Iran's ultimate goal is nuclear weapons. Should we ignore him?

hworta269: If any nation indirectly caused 8000 rockets to be launched at any other nation there would be no debating the concequences of a military action against them.

Right. The country trying to get nukes is the country actively engaging in war with Israel. Israel, the country that has nukes, is not killing a single Iranian. And some people want to see Iran get nukes out of "fairness."

Iran wants weapons for protection from aggressive countries. I think Iran is aggressive but there are other countries far more aggressive than Iran and they already have weapons. All the countries that have weapons of mass destruction have to destroy them. The country that has the most weapons of mass destruction shall stop accusing other countries developing them of terrorism. It is hypocritical and arrogant.

Iran is surrounded by more agressive nations? Are they paying you be spout their propaganda?

LoveUSA: Iran wants weapons for protection from aggressive countries.

Iran is killing innocents in Iraq, Israel, and Lebanon. I don't see any Iraqis, Israelis, Lebanese, or Americans killing Iranians. Perhaps you need to rethink your definition of "aggressor" or simply learn some basic facts.

Considering the threats issued by the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call to have Israel,"wiped off the map", I do not fault Israel for doing ANYTHING to protect itself.