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Last update - 13:33 17/09/2009
Report: Barak says Iran is not existential threat to Israel
By Reuters
Tags: Israel News, Ehud Barak 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak was quoted on Thursday as saying he does not view Iran as a threat to Israel's existence, a view that would seem to depart from Israeli statements of the recent past.

Israel's mass-circulation Yedioth Ahronoth daily quoted Barak, the head of Israel's centre-left Labour party, as saying "Iran does not constitute an existential threat against Israel."

In response to a question about Tehran's nuclear program which Israel has said it sees as destined to produce atomic weapons that could put its existence at risk, Barak said in an interview with the paper: "I am not among those who believe Iran is an existential issue for Israel."
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Barak said "Israel is strong, I don't see anyone who could pose an existential threat," although he did add that he viewed Iran as a challenge to the whole world.

Israeli leaders have repeatedly said they view Iran's atomic development as a threat, pointing at President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's calls for the Jewish state to be wiped off the map, and support for groups seeking Israel's destruction.

Iran insists its nuclear program is solely intended for energy production.

Western countries have sought to toughen sanctions against Iran, alongside efforts at dialogue by U.S. President Barack Obama, in an attempt to pressure Iran to halt its nuclear development.

Israel is assumed to possess the only atomic arsenal in the Middle East.
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  1.   Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 14:34  |  Pablo Luis 17/09/09
  2.   Barak`s assessment is wrong 15:38  |  Brod 17/09/09
  3.   Two plausible explanations for Barak statement 16:06  |  Joe 17/09/09
  4.   Israel and the Iranian regime 18:45  |  sani 17/09/09
  5.   Barak is right 19:09  |  Mexi 17/09/09
  6.   To Mexi: And if Israel... 23:32  |  HPL 17/09/09
  7.   barak`s assessment is absolutely RIGHT 08:23  |  eric 18/09/09
  8.   # 3 there`s also a third explanation, joe 09:10  |  eric 18/09/09
  9.   Finally an Israeli leader speaks the Truth 11:52  |  Ariana 18/09/09
  10.   World Views 11:15  |  Farzaad 19/09/09
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