While the international community continues efforts to persuade Russia and China to support crippling economic sanctions against Iran, not everyone is convinced such sanctions will effectively halt Iran’s nuclear program.

In a briefing before members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee on Monday, a senior IDF intelligence officer explained that it appears that even if the “crippling sanctions” are imposed on Iran, they will be ineffective towards halting Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.

Also in attendance was Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who stated that at present, Iran does not pose an existential threat to Israel because currently, Iran does not have a nuclear weapon, adding he hopes this will be the case in the future as well. He stressed that Iran does have potential to pose an existential threat but Israel continues efforts to prevent such a reality.

“A nuclear Iran is a world problem, not just Israel but the international community is still focusing on the economic crisis, not Iran”.

Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya’alon is calling on Israel to prepare herself accordingly, to ready itself to defend against the Iranian threat. “A nuclear Iran would pose a serious threat to Israel, the Mideast and the entire world” stated the minister.

“Israel expects the international community led by the United States to take action to prevent such a reality, to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon, but at the same time, Israel must prepare to defend herself and ensure her security”.

When asked about negotiating with Syria, Barak stressed Israel must seek out all possibilities towards dialogue, without compromising strategic security interests.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)