Barak: Iran Is Not an 'Existential Threat' to Israel

By JTA

Published September 18, 2009.
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Ehud Barak says Iran is not an “existential threat” to Israel.

In an interview with the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronoth, the Israeli defense minister was quoted as saying that “Iran does not constitute an existential threat against Israel” and that “I am not among those who believe Iran is an existential issue for Israel.” He was responding to a question about Iran’s nuclear program.

“Israel is strong, I don’t see anyone who could pose an existential threat,” said Barak, who added that he did view Iran as a challenge to the whole world.

Israeli leaders have previously portrayed Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons as a threat to Israel’s future.


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Comments
Persian patriot Fri. Sep 18, 2009

Barak is correct. Nothing can stand in our way of building nuclear weapons. We will thus prove our superiority over Sunni Islam because we will be able to deal with the zionists more decisively

evren Sat. Sep 19, 2009

Barack is relying on Israeli nuclear deterrence capabilities built way before 1970's. Israel has nothing to fear from a possible future Iranian nuclear weapon. If Cold War is any guide, mutual assured destruction will work. Iranian "madness" or "irrationaliy" seems like an orientalist conception on the nature of "Easterners".






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