israel

Iran Says Israeli Retaliation Would be 'Fatal Mistake'

By Chris Mitchell
Middle East Bureau Chief

CBN.com – JERUSALEM, Israel - The war of words heated up between Israel and Iran over the weekend. Iran's foreign minister said on Sunday that Israel would be making "a fatal mistake" if it resorted to military action against Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran's foreign minister was responding to statements made on Saturday by Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz at an academic conference here in Israel. While Mofaz said international diplomacy must be used first, he hinted Israel would use military force against Iran if diplomatic efforts failed to deter Tehran from its drive to develop a nuclear bomb.

Mofaz said that Israel is committed to defending itself "with everything that entails." In perhaps a biblical reference to the story of the Persian Queen Esther, Mofaz also warned Iran’s leaders to consider the plight of nations that tried to destroy the Jewish people throughout history.

Iran's foreign minister dismissed the threats as childish games, and suggested that Israel was only trying to add to Western pressure on Iran to give up its nuclear program.

Despite growing international pressure on Iran, Tehran remains defiant. It even promised to speed up its nuclear program if it is referred to the U.N. Security Council.

Israel's concerns about Iran’s nuclear program have grown because of recent comments by Iran’s president that declared Israel should be wiped off the map.

Israel's Defense Force Chief of Staff General Dan Halutz said a nuclear-armed Iran constitutes a threat to the existence of the state of Israel.

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