Ya'alon: Israel must not depend on help against Iran

JPOST.COM STAFF
11/01/2011

Strategic Affairs minister says Israel should confront Iran's attempts to arm itself with nuclear weapons as if Jewish State stands alone.


Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon said Tuesday that while hoping international efforts to thwart Iran's nuclear aspirations succeed, Israel must act as if it can depend on nobody to protect it from the Iranian threat but itself.

"We must aspire to a situation in which the righteous work will be done by others, but act as if, 'if not me, who'" Ya'alon said in an interview with Army Radio, making use of a Hebrew adage touting self-reliance.
Ya'alon's comments came after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed the Iranian threat on Monday, during his speech at the opening meeting of the Knesset winter session.

"“Iran is continuing in its attempts to arm itself with nuclear weapons,” he said. “A nuclear Iran will threaten the Middle East, the world and Israel.”

The prime minister warned that the Arab Spring brought instability and uncertainty to the Middle East, and that Islamic extremism would grow in popularity.

“The liberal forces working for freedom and progress as we understand them are weak and divided,” Netanyahu said. “It is doubtful that the great hope that existed when the Arab Spring broke out will be fulfilled.”