(Haaretz).Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Tuesday that the United States must be told that Iran's nuclear program and outpost activity in the West Bank are two unrelated issues.
"We need to find a way to explain to the Americans that there is no link between outposts and Iran," Barak told reporters. "It's not as though the minute an illegal outpost is dismantled the Iranian will abandon their nuclear aspirations. Therefore, these issues must not be directly hinged on one another."
"The Iranian threat does not face the State of Israel alone. Iran is threatening the stability of the entire region, as well as many European and Muslim states," Barak added. "The free world, moderate elements in the region and Israel see eye to eye on this threat.
According to the defense minister, Israel is not in a position to issue ultimatums to the U.S. regarding its overtures to Iran for diplomacy. "We can only express our stance, that every dialogue be given a deadline and that comprehensive and effective sanctions are simultaneously prepared."
Barak reiterated that Israel was not taking any option off the table with regard to Iran. "We mean what we say and we suggest others follow our lead,"
