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America in the Middle East

Olmert, Peretz look to world for help


By Stan Goodenough
April 19, 2007

Israel is relying on the gentile nations of the world to stop the Iranian nuclear juggernaut.

So said Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz to reporters after meeting with visiting US Defense Secretary Robert Gates in Tel Aviv Wednesday.

“Iran presents a threat not only to Israel, but to the entire free world. This problem is of concern to all of us and we are certain that the world will not stand aside.”

In fact, he said, just in case his meaning was not clear, Israel “expect[s] that the US and the world will stand by us regarding the Iranian nuclear issue."

Peretz hinted that the reason for his optimism was, among other things, recent United Nations moves to economically pressure Tehran into reversing its quest to go nuclear.

“I congratulate the US on the Security Council decision regarding sanctions.”

That Iranian madman Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s responses to the threatened embargoes have only been increasingly aggressive does not appear to have doused such optimism.

For his part, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was grateful to be able to meet with Gates in Jerusalem, Thursday.

“It gives us an opportunity to speak to the most powerful man in the defense establishment in the United States of America, which is extremely important to us,” he said.

Olmert got fully an hour with Gates, during which time they had a “fine, positive conversation” about, inter alia the Iranian’s, Syria, Lebanon and the “Palestinians,” according to government officials.

Gates, meanwhile, reiterated his country’s commitment to Israel, which he maintained was underscored by his presence here.

“I think the fact that I have come here in the end of my fourth month as secretary illustrates the importance that I attach to our relationship with Israel,” he said.

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