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Israel keeping close eye on Iran

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    Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren reacts

  • Duration 4:18
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And on another international front President Obama has been busy working to quell Israel's growing concern that the US -- -- taking Iran's nuclear threat seriously and enough.

At a meeting earlier this week Israel's prime minister gave the president the book of -- which tells the story of a plot against the Jewish people.

Well the US and Israel now on the same page joining us now live Israeli ambassador to -- last Michael -- and mr.

ambassador thank you for your time -- The morning Gerri good to be here -- right what is your perception after the meetings this week are your concerns allayed at this point -- feel.

Well.

First before I start talking about Iranian issue and the nuclear issue -- -- remind your viewers that over the weekend.

-- -- terrorists in Gaza fired about a 140 rockets and missiles.

At the southern part of Israel putting about a million half Israelis that would be about 45 million Americans.

Under fire 200000 of our school children are in shelters today not in school one of those missiles actually hit a school.

-- first let me express my admiration for those Israelis for their courage.

And my appreciation to the people of America to congress and the president for helping us provide us with the iron dome.

Anti missile system which is to -- successfully intercepted a great number.

Of those missiles.

And I think we have to be very very aware.

That these Iranian backed terrorists of firing this number of missiles now let us imagine how many missiles -- be firing if they knew that they were backed by Iranian nuclear weapon.

And mr.

-- is it fair to say -- the situation in Gaza Strip this weekend was triggered when Israel fired on a militant leader.

Killing him on Friday.

It can get militant leader had conducted a terrorist attack against our people -- last August killed eight innocent Israelis.

And it was planning to conduct another.

It was very much like you know an American operation against bin Laden.

And for us.

Okay excellent so moving through as the tensions continue there in the Gaza Strip we know that's ongoing today as well.

Let's talk -- about the the broader worries that you have about Iran's nuclear program it do you feel assured at this point.

That the US does as the president said have Israel's back.

We have a very close and continuing the conversation we -- the United States with the American leaders over the Iranian issue.

I think they understand that our perspective you know America is a very big country without a big window of opportunity looks out that window is -- -- very far away we are tiny country.

With a small window we look at that window we see Iran in our back yard.

So we have different perspectives but we are remaining very close in touch and continuing that death that close contact.

Do you feel that that Israel.

Has an obligation not ask permission.

The prime minister was very clear that Iran -- Israel maintains.

Of the -- at any time to defend its its own nation and sovereignty that it has to protect itself.

But is there any obligation -- you feel on Israel's part to at least give a heads up to the US prior to any type of attack on Iran.

Again we are very close allies and we do maintain this this very.

Constant.

And close communication we have one another and as President Obama said.

Israel is that sovereign right country has that right decide how best to defend itself.

He further said that only Israel has the ability to defend itself by itself against any Middle Eastern threat or any combination of Middle Eastern -- What for you do you believe is the point of no return for Israel we know that the US has a great deal of Intel Israel has its own set of intelligence regarding Iran.

Is there a red line in the sand.

While not gonna going to -- operation -- -- -- there's some time but not much time left.

We have -- we've been warning about Iranian nuclear program now for twenty years we've been very patient for ten years of diplomacy six years of sanctions.

We've -- again and again that we need crippling sanctions combined with a credible military threat that's credible military threat is what got -- to give up his military.

Nuclear program in 2003.

K we all say all options on the table it's not enough that we say it it's very important -- the Ayatollah is in Tehran.

Believe it that they believe that they cannot make this nuclear weapon without very dire consequences indeed.

Ambassador Michael -- we thank you -- very much for your time today.

Thank you --

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