Perilous Times
Israeli official declares: 'We're preparing for war' - Warns if world
doesn't stop Iran, Jewish nation may be forced to act
Posted: August 22, 2010
While Israel is hoping for a peaceful resolution to Iran's nuclear
ambitions, the Jewish state is also preparing for "a time of war,"
declared a Knesset member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling
Likud party.
"We are prepared for all risks," said Likud Knesset Member Danny Danon.
"And I think our enemies should know that even though we are speaking
of peace, we are getting ready for a time of war, as well."
Danon, the deputy speaker of Israel's parliament, was speaking in a
radio interview with senior reporter Aaron Klein, who hosts an
investigative program on New York's WABC 770 AM Radio.
Danon hinted that Israel may take action if the world does not stop the
Iranian nuclear threat, recalling Israel's lone strike on Iraq's
nuclear reactor in 1981.
Stated Danon: "We are ready for all scenarios, and we are able to
defend our civilian population. I cannot tell you how long we can wait
more. But we prefer to wait and see if the international bodies are
acting, or [whether] it will be only the burden of Israel, like it was
in the early '80s, when the great leader, Menachem Begin, [made] the
great decision to bomb the nuclear reactor in Iraq."
Despite his assertion that Jerusalem is preparing to act alone, Danon
stressed that Iran is an international concern. He called on the
Western world to "take action" against Iran's suspected illicit nuclear
program.
"I think we have to take action," he said. "It's about time to take
action. It should be the international world and not only Israel. And I
expect the administration in the White House to wake up as soon as
possible."
Danon said he is concerned the international community has not been
forceful enough in its policies toward Iran.
"What we see today is that the Russians, the Americans, the Europeans
all say they are worried about Iran becoming nuclear, but in fact Iran
is working full ahead, and it's only a matter of months or a year
before they will be reaching the point of no return," he said.
Danon stated that any future military confrontation against Iran
"should be an international effort."
"We don't want this to be a war of Jews against Muslims. It should be a
war of Western civilization [against] Iran," he said.
"The threat of Iran becoming nuclear is a threat for the people who
live in the U.S., Europe and Israel." he said. "No one can guarantee
that Iran will use its power only against Israel."