Israel Army Chief Says Iran Must Be Stopped

By Haaretz February 1, 2012

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz said on Wednesday that the threats facing Israel have increased and intensified in recent years due to regional instability. He also said that Iran’s attempts to acquire nuclear weapons must continue to be disrupted.

Speaking to the Herzliya Conference, Gantz said that Iran’s nuclear program is a “global problem and a regional problem”.

He added that Iran could cross the nuclear threshold within a year, if it decides to do so. “There is no doubt that Iran is seeking military nuclear capability,” Gantz said.

Gantz said that Gulf states are just as concerned about Iran’s nuclear program as Israel is. He added, however, that “we must not forget one basic thing: Israel is the only country in the world which someone is calling for its destruction and which someone is building the tools to do so. This is something that cannot be ignored.”

“The world and the region must continue to isolate Iran,” Gantz said.

For more, go to Haaretz.com

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