fbpx

Envoy says Israel ‘far from’ strike on Iran

Israel\'s ambassador to the United States said his country is \"far from even contemplating\" a strike on Iran\'s nuclear facilities.\n\nIn an interview aired Sunday on CNN, Michael Oren told host Fareed Zakaria that Israel supports President Obama\'s efforts at outreach to Iran.
[additional-authors]
August 16, 2009

Israel’s ambassador to the United States said his country is “far from even contemplating” a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

In an interview aired Sunday on CNN, Michael Oren told host Fareed Zakaria that Israel supports President Obama’s efforts at outreach to Iran.

Asked about reports that Israel was planning to curb the Islamic Republic’s ability to obtain nuclear weapons by attacking its nuclear facilities, Oren said,  “I don’t think it’s true. I think that we are far from even contemplating such things right now.”

After Zakaria accused Oren of not being forthcoming about an imminent attack, and pointing out that Israel has been “deeply uncomfortable and nervous” about engagement with Iran, the ambassador replied that “We were, but we were greatly comforted during the prime minister’s visit here in May, when the president told him, assured him, that there would be a serious reassessment of the policy before the end of the year. We are further reassured now that the end-of-the-year deadline has been moved up to September.”

Oren added that the U.S. “willingness to consider formulating a package of serious sanctions against Iran even now in advance of the reassessment” also was reassuring.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

Difficult Choices

Jews have always believed in the importance of higher education. Today, with the rise in antisemitism across many college campuses, Jewish high school seniors are facing difficult choices.

All Aboard the Lifeboat

These are excruciating times for Israel, and for the Jewish people.  It is so tempting to succumb to despair. That is why we must keep our eyes open and revel in any blessing we can find.  

More news and opinions than at a
Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.