Iranian Nuclear Power, a Threat to the Entire Free World - Israeli General

During an interview on Israel Army Radio on Monday the Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, spoke about the threat posed by Iran.

He said that “the possibility of Iran becoming a nuclear power is a threat not only to the State of Israel, but for the Middle East and the entire free world,” Speaking about the ways of dealing with the issue he said:

“We all understand that the best way of coping is through international sanctions... I hope that Iran will understand this. I think that if not, Israel has the right to defend itself, and all options are open. The IDF's working premise is that we have to be prepared for that possibility, and that is exactly what we are doing.”

On the topic of the necessary cooperation between the IDF and the US Army, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said that the IDF has “a professional and productive cooperation with the American military.

We have a special relationship with the United States.” The Chief of the General Staff also spoke about his excellent personal relationship with the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen.

When asked about the UN Goldstone Report on Operation Cast Lead, the Chief of the General Staff said: “I studied the report – it is erroneous and unbalanced. The report disregards the fact that Hamas fired at Israeli civilians for years. As someone who planned the Operation – we have an ethical army and we did everything possible in order not to harm uninvolved civilians.” The Chief of the General Staff emphasized that he did not know “even one incident in which IDF soldiers consciously aimed a gun at innocent civilians and pulled the trigger.”

About the abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said: “Everybody wants Gilad to come home. We will not have completed our mission until Gilad returns home...” He also spoke about the price that the State of Israel has to pay: “I do not think that it is possible to bring Gilad home without releasing terror operatives – the question is which terror operatives. It is wrong to raise false hope that it will happen without the release of terror operatives.”

Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi also spoke about the issue of members of bereaved families being drafted into combat units, in the context of the tragic accident where Cpt. Assaf Ramon was killed: “We have to discuss the issue and consider the wishes of the families and the soldiers.”

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