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War drums for Israel and Iran?

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    Israeli ambassador to US talks potential strike on nuclear facilities

  • Duration 5:50
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There's increasing talk -- concern about a possible Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities the country's civil defense chief says.

Hundreds of Israelis could die in a war that may last round of -- What about that let's get some perspective from Israel's ambassador to the US.

Michael -- ambassador thanks so much for being here it was good to be over.

You wrote an editorial on Wall Street Journal this week I -- you said Israel has been essentially sounded the alarm about Iran 42 decades and you point out about the nuclear program you say last week Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Said the annihilation of the zionist regime is the key for solving the world's problems.

And then you end by saying this is the repeated attempts to negotiate with -- -- have demonstrated.

Neither diplomacy nor sanctions has removed the threat.

A combination of truly crippling sanctions and a credible military threat a threat that the Ayatollah still do not believe today.

May yet convince Iran to relinquish its nuclear dreams.

The time is dwindling and with each passing day the lives of eight million Israelis grow.

Increasingly imperiled the window that opened twenty years ago is now almost shot ambassador that sounds.

Different we've talked many times it sounds different.

Well let me just put bad one thing that you didn't quote threatened that is that no country.

Has a greater stake.

And and trying to remove the threat of a nuclear Iran by diplomatic -- in the State of Israel we have the most skin in the game.

We -- talking about eight million citizens some of them are my children.

We have a great great stake in resolving this by diplomatic means.

But we are coming up -- juncture where we have waited for these twenty years it took the world ten years to take us seriously.

And took another eight years to impose serious sanctions on Iran and the last the sanctions have -- works diplomacy hasn't worked according to the international atomic energy agency.

The Iranian nuclear program is actually accelerating they have enough enriched uranium now for close to five nuclear devices.

And that program big parts of -- thousands of centrifuges are moving underground.

To places where our capabilities.

How will be incapable of reaching them.

And this is a a country which as you said never misses an opportunity to say that they want to wipe Israel off the map just yesterday the supreme leader said just that.

Some people in this country are seeing moves inside Israel that are suggesting that things are speeding up.

For example I'll be Dick you're a member of the opposition in the -- it.

I joined the government as minister of the home front which is essentially equivalent to I guess secretary of Homeland Security.

He theory I guess is that he's being brought in to sway the group of eight ministers.

Comprising the security cabinet that will decide that you go no go decision on a strike against Iraq.

True I wouldn't read too much into it -- threat -- Victor is a very revered figure in our our security.

At establishment he was a member of our our delta force -- commander there he is replacing my former commander in the army who is becoming Israel's ambassador.

To China.

But we are always vigilant we're surrounded by.

70000.

Terrorist rockets in Lebanon at least 101000 in the hands of Hamas in Gaza.

We always have to be vigilant because our front lines are neighborhoods.

Is it fair to say what we're seeing on the ground -- hearing from people there that this is that sort of accelerating that.

That as you note the window is closing and that Israel is prepared.

Well the window is closing we're dealing but this Iranian regime.

Which in addition to its pledges to destroy -- a sexy backing up its words with deeds they carried out terrorist attacks against Israeli targets.

Across five continents 25 countries including right here in Washington DC.

An attempt to go along with assassinating the Saudi ambassador to to blow up the Israeli embassy here -- killed five of our citizens in Bulgaria few weeks ago.

They are providing these tens of thousands of rockets to terrorists that our borders are trying to kill Americans they killed American soldiers in Afghanistan and in Iraq they're helping the Al Assad regime murder their own people.

In Syria.

But we have to take them seriously.

Today Israeli President Peres in an interview said that Israel alone should not and cannot attack Iran's facilities saying this.

It is clear to us that we alone can not do it we can postpone it.

But we know clearly that we have to go along with America there are questions of coordination and timing but no matter how much.

Near the danger is growing at least this time we are not alone now for rats is just moving story quoting Netanyahu aides saying.

Quote in opposing Israeli attack on Iran Perez forgot his place.

What is that the messaging coming out there from the Israeli President and perhaps from inside the Netanyahu administration.

Well I have nothing but the highest respect for president Paris recently I had the honor of accompanying him when he received the highest award -- America gives to a civilian the presidential medal of freedom.

But at the end of the day -- the decisions have to be made by the democratically elected Government of Israel and that is that is our duty that is our.

Far right.

And that right has also been recognized by President Obama than Obama said publicly.

That Israel has the right to defend itself against any Middle Eastern threat and only Israel.

As a sovereign nation can decide how best to defend its citizens in other words you're -- -- Paris has a ceremonial role in Israel and that what he's saying here does not speak to the Netanyahu.

Administration the -- ends with the Government of Israel -- buck is in Jerusalem with the democratically elected -- anti government.

We will follow this very closely investor Warren thank you very much as always Bret thank you.

So do you think Israel will carry out unilateral strike on Iran before the election here in the US.

Let me know on Twitter you can follow me at -- there.

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