Israel: 'Iran must start to fear'

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert arrived in Washington on Nov. 12 for talks with US President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Ahead of his departure, Olmert said the major issues to be discussed at the summit will be the curbing of the Iranian nuclear threat and ways to resuscitate the Israeli-Palestinian diplomatic process. In a conversation with journalists aboard his plane on Nov.12, the prime minister reiterated that "Iran will only agree to a compromise on the issue of its nuclear program if it has a reason to be afraid." Olmert refused to elaborate on Israel's options regarding the issue. In an interview published on Nov. 12, Olmert made statements about Iran that took on the harshest tones so far, as he hinted at the possibility of Israeli military action. Responding to the interview, Iran said it would react swiftly and harshly to such a move by Israel. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Ali Hosseini told a news conference Iran would put its Revolutionary Guards into action if Israel attacked the country. "If Israel takes such a stupid step and attacks, the answer of Iran and its Revolutionary Guard will be rapid, firm and destructive and it will be given in a few seconds," he said. He also said the country was pressing ahead with plans to expand its program to enrich uranium, which the West and Israel accuse Iran of using to make nuclear warheads, despite Tehran's denials. In an interview appearing on Nov. 12 in Newsweek and the Washington Post, Olmert compared Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Adolf Hitler, calling Ahmadinejad "a man who is ready to commit crimes against humanity" and noting "he has to be stopped." "My position is clear," the prime minister said regarding Iran. "If there can be a compromise that will stop Iran short of crossing the technological threshold that will lead them into nuclear capabilities, we will be for such a compromise. But I don't believe that Iran will accept such compromise unless they have a very good reason to fear the consequences of not reaching it. In other words, Iran must start to fear." When asked what he thought could be done about Iran, Olmert said, "I can think of many different measures. The guideline has to be that this government and the people of Iran must understand that if they do not accept the request of the international community, they're going to pay dearly." When asked whether he would not rule out a military option, he answered, "I think my words were clear enough." A senior government source said Olmert would be discussing with Bush the creation of an international coalition against Iran and would try to "reach understandings best kept quiet."