Daily Alert Archives

Syria Overshadows Iran during Hagel's Visit to Israel

(AP-Washington Post) On Chuck Hagel's inaugural visit to Israel as U.S. defense secretary, Syria surpassed Iran as the security threat of greatest urgency to the U.S.' closest Mideast ally. Israeli leaders see Iran's nuclear ambitions as a threat to their country's very existence, given Tehran's vow to wipe it off the map. But Syria overshadowed Iran during Hagel's three days in Israel, due to widespread concern that its stockpiles of chemical weapons could pose a threat to Israel and other neighbors if they fell into the hands of extremists. That explains, in part, why Hagel repeatedly stressed Israel's right to defend itself and to decide on its own, if necessary, whether and when to attack Iran. He gave less emphasis than usual to Washington's wish that diplomacy and sanctions be given more time to persuade Iran to change course. Israel's new defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, said on Monday, "By one way or another, the military nuclear project of Iran should be stopped. Having said that, we believe that the military option, which is well discussed, should be the last resort anyhow....There are other tools to be used and to be exhausted, whether it is diplomacy, economic sanctions, or even more support of the opposition in Iran."
2013-04-24 00:00:00
Full Article