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Netanyahu to UN: A Nuclear-Armed Iran Would Be Like 50 North Koreas

(Prime Minister's Office) Prime Minister Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday: Today, our hope for the future is challenged by a nuclear-armed Iran that seeks our destruction. But that wasn't always the case. Some 2500 years ago, the great Persian King Cyrus ended the Babylonian exile of the Jewish people. He issued a famous edict in which he proclaimed the right of the Jews to return to the Land of Israel and rebuild the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Thus began an historic friendship between the Jews and the Persians that lasted until modern times. President Rouhani headed Iran's Supreme National Security Council from 1989 through 2003. During that time, Iran's henchmen murdered 85 people at the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires. They killed 19 American soldiers by blowing up the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. Are we to believe that Rouhani, the National Security Advisor of Iran at the time, knew nothing about these attacks? Like everyone else, I wish we could believe Rouhani's words. But we must focus on Iran's actions. Rouhani assured us that in pursuit of its nuclear program, Iran has "never chosen deceit...and secrecy." In 2002, Iran was caught red-handed secretly building an underground centrifuge facility at Natanz. Then in 2009, Iran was again caught red-handed secretly building a huge underground nuclear facility for uranium enrichment in a mountain near Qom. Why would a country with vast natural energy reserves invest billions in developing nuclear energy? Why would a country with a peaceful nuclear program develop intercontinental ballistic missiles whose sole purpose is to deliver nuclear warheads? Like Iran, North Korea also said its nuclear program was for peaceful purposes. Like Iran, North Korea also offered meaningless concessions and empty promises in return for sanctions relief. In 2006, North Korea exploded its first nuclear weapons device. A nuclear-armed Iran in the Middle East wouldn't be another North Korea. It would be another 50 North Koreas! A diplomatic solution would require Iran to do four things. First, cease all uranium enrichment. Second, remove from its territory the stockpiles of enriched uranium. Third, dismantle the infrastructure for a nuclear breakout capability, including the underground facility near Qom and the advanced centrifuges in Natanz. Four, stop all work at the heavy water reactor in Arak aimed at the production of plutonium. The international community has Iran on the ropes. If you want to knock out Iran's nuclear weapons program peacefully, don't let up the pressure. Keep it up. Israel will never acquiesce to nuclear arms in the hands of a rogue regime that repeatedly promises to wipe us off the map. Against such a threat, Israel will have no choice but to defend itself. Israel will not allow Iran to get nuclear weapons. If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone. Yet in standing alone, Israel will know that we will be defending many, many others.
2013-10-02 00:00:00
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