Israeli president opposes military action against Iran
Washington, 5 September (IranVNC)—Israel’s President Shimon Peres today said he opposes a military strike against Iran over its controversial nuclear program, a day after France warned Iran’s program could provoke an Israeli strike.
By: IranVNC
Published: Friday, September 05, 2008
17:25GMT—1:25PM/EST
ISRAEL – IRAN – SYRIA – HEZBOLLAH
Washington, 5 September (IranVNC)—Israel’s President Shimon Peres today said he opposes a military strike against Iran over its controversial nuclear program, a day after France warned Iran’s program could provoke an Israeli strike.
“I do not support military action against Iran, but the world must become a united front and impose harsh economic sanctions on Iran,” the Jerusalem Post quotes Peres as saying today at a political summit in Italy, the Jerusalem Post reports.
He added: “So long as there is a possibility of acting politically and economically, it is much better,” AFP reported.
France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday warned Iran that it is at risk of a possible Israeli military strike if it continues with its controversial nuclear program, which he said has a military purpose.
Iran insists the program is purely peaceful and today dismissed Sarkozy’s claims as “baseless”.
Sarkozy made his comments after meeting with Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, who vowed to “play a role” in the longstanding dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.
Al-Assad said yesterday that he had delivered to Turkish mediators a six-point proposal that would serve as a basis for direct peace talks with Israel. Israel and Syria have held four rounds of indirect peace talks through Turkish mediators since May.
Israel’s Peres today expressed support for the talks, but called on al-Assad to make a move like that of former-Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, whose 1977 visit to Jerusalem led to a peace agreement in 1979.
“I think if President Assad will create a visit to Israel or alternatively invite the prime minister of Israel to go to Damascus, we shall see a major change,” Peres said.
As part of the peace negotiations, Israel has called on Syria to cease its support for Lebanon’s militant group Hezbollah, as well as Iran and Palestinian Hamas.
But al-Assad yesterday told Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV that he would not cut ties with the group.
“I don’t see any way to give up on Hezbollah. Our stance is as clear as always,” Israel’s Haaretz quoted al-Assad as saying.
Sources: Jerusalem Post, Agence France-Presse, Haaretz
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