Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., July 18, 2008 Tamuz 15, 5768 | | Israel Time: 12:25 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer. (Tomer Appelbaum).
Last update - 09:37 08/04/2008
Ben-Eliezer: If Iran attacks Israel, we will destroy it
By Barak Ravid and Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondents and Haaretz Service
Tags: Hezbollah, Iran, Israel 

Minister of National Infrastructures and former defense minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer sent Iran a warning Monday, saying "an Iranian attack on Israel will lead to a harsh response by Israel that will cause the destruction of the Iranian nation."

Ben-Eliezer was speaking during a visit to the Infrastructure Ministry war room, which is being prepared as part of the civil defense drill.

"The Iranians won't rush to attack Israel, because they understand the significance such action would have and are well aware of our strength," added Ben-Eliezer. "However, Iran continues to aggravate the situation by supplying arms to Syria and Hezbollah, and we must deal with this."
Advertisement
The minister said the civil defense exercise "is not a meaningless spectacle or a fictional scenario. The future reality is likely to be a number of times harsher than that which we recognize now. We are confronted with a situation where the home front becomes the front line."

"In a future war, it will be much safer to live in [the northern towns of] Nahariya and Shlomi instead of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, since I expect that in the opening attack hundreds of missiles will strike Israel. There will be no place in the country which is not within range of Syria and Hezbollah's rocketsm," Ben-Eliezer added.

Israel and the United States are concerned that North Korea has provided Iran with nuclear know-how and they are seeking to pressure Pyongyang to cease its nuclear cooperation with Tehran.

This is one of the motives behind Jerusalem and Washington's agreement to disclose details on the Israel Air Force strike on Syria last September. According to foreign press reports, the strike targeted a nuclear installation built with North Korean assistance.



Related articles:
  • Hezbollah No. 2: IDF drills are preparation for war on Lebanon
  • Hezbollah: IDF drill borne of 'frustration and despair'
  • Civil defense drill starts Sun.; to include mock chemical attack
  • Israel, U.S. plan to release details on Syria attack
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Kafka's heir
    Many believe Hava Hoffe is in possession of an important literary treasure.
    Press doyen
    Eric Silver, veteran of the foreign press corps in Jerusalem, dies aged 73.
      1.   Fouad 14:28  |  Toutou 07/04/08
      2.   AG Mazuz&Lefties would block answering to attack by Iran,"civili 14:30  |  Absolute Sweden 07/04/08
      3.   But what if Israel attacks Iran first ?? !!! 14:42  |  Jacques 07/04/08
      4.   Iran has no intention of attacking anyone,never has attacked any 14:49  |  lakshmi 07/04/08
      5.   total nonsense 14:49  |  Leon Rosgarten 07/04/08
      6.   Ben-Eliezer: This guy needs new material 14:49  |  Natallie Durson 07/04/08
      7.   No to Iran`s nuclear program. 14:54  |  Jean Van Daem 07/04/08
      8.   Iranians need to understand the stakes 14:56  |  tony 07/04/08
      9.   Jacques you are wrong 15:05  |  Sarcastic 07/04/08
      10.   If Ben-Eliezer can handle Iran then why not Hamas missiles? 15:08  |  Sam 07/04/08
      11.   lakshmi the bubble boy 15:08  |  don 07/04/08
      12.   Alleged nuclear installation 15:12  |  Jens 07/04/08
      13.   It`s not about nukes 15:20  |  RAB 07/04/08
      14.   Iran uses proxies to attack Israel all the time 15:28  |  ERSB 07/04/08
      15.   The racism of Israeli rhetoric 15:31  |  Rowan Berkeley 07/04/08
      16.   IF IRAN WELL AWARE OF YOUR STRENGTH... WHAT`S THE FUSS ABOUT ?? 15:34  |  TripleJump 07/04/08
      17.   Israel IS the one with the history of aggressions... 15:36  |  Patrick 07/04/08
      18.   THAT`S THE BEAUTY OF NUKES 15:36  |  indrajaya 07/04/08
      19.   lakshmi- we all know why you think Iran SHOULD develop nukes 15:36  |  Jon 07/04/08
      20.   IRAN: how to avoid war 15:39  |  AliciaYasmeen 07/04/08
      21.   To Jacques 15:41  |  goudi 07/04/08
      22.   Durson - take a smart pill 15:43  |  Wally 07/04/08
      23.   A pathetic Absolut Votka 15:46  |  dovale 07/04/08
      24.   Another Day 15:48  |  Lennart R. 07/04/08
      25.   Ben-Eliezer should hold on to his pants before they fall off 15:48  |  Javad 07/04/08
      26.   The Junior Partner will kick the butt of Iran & Co 15:51  |  Zionist 07/04/08
      27.   The Junior Partner will kick the butt of Iran & Co 15:51  |  Zionist 07/04/08
      28.   when a dog bark 15:52  |  Imad 07/04/08
      29.   #10: To handle an enemy with human shields 16:09  |  5th generation 07/04/08
      30.   lakshmi 16:10  |  nash 07/04/08
      31.   FUAD YOU SHOULD HAVE KEPT YOUR BIG TRAP SHUT !! 16:11  |  H.H.M 07/04/08
      32.   ahmad... under threat 16:12  |  scanadu 07/04/08
      33.   #17 Partick, you are so right.... 16:13  |  John Allen 07/04/08
      34.   #12 Jens. Hello! 16:16  |  John Allen 07/04/08
      35.   #17 Patrick 16:22  |  * BEN JABO 07/04/08
      36.   This is nothing more 16:22  |  Steve 07/04/08
      37.   BenEliezer & the leftists can`t even stop Kassams from Aza 16:26  |  FEIGLIN for PM 07/04/08
      38.   Israel Has ALREADY Been Attacked by Iran. The USA Too. 16:28  |  MIKE 07/04/08
      39.   Ben-Eliezer would be wise to quit beating-his-breast... 16:30  |  bat yam 07/04/08
      40.   This is all American fault......... 16:34  |  IL supporter 07/04/08
      41.   Natallie: Iran wants peaceful nuclear program just like... 16:37  |  Richard S 07/04/08
      42.   About Time Someone Answered The Daily Threats Against Israel 16:43  |  Eli 07/04/08
      43.   Ben Eliezer - minister of something else - such 16:55  |  17 07/04/08
      44.   Will the honorable gentleman be so kind as to fulfil prior pledge 17:02  |  Nuchem 07/04/08
      45.   10, because then Olmert would get the credit 17:03  |  Nate 07/04/08
      46.   There are 17:06  |  thinker 07/04/08
      47.   there are Jews in Iran too, you know! 17:09  |  thinker 07/04/08
      48.   Richard S 17:17  |  Natallie Durson 07/04/08
      49.   how ignorant some of the posts here 17:17  |  george 07/04/08
      50.   #17 patrick is clearly irish ? israel exists 17:21  |  victor hardman 07/04/08
      51.   lakshmi 17:22  |  arthur 07/04/08
      52.   Whether Iran Wishes To Attack Israel or Not 17:25  |  Eli 07/04/08
      53.   Jacques 17:26  |  georges 07/04/08
      54.   balance of terror 17:29  |  arthur 07/04/08
      55.   #45 Iranian Jews 17:30  |  Motke 07/04/08
      56.   One can be sure that this is no idle threat..! 17:36  |  Stephen. 07/04/08
      57.   #3 Jacques 17:36  |  Inquirer 07/04/08
      58.   jacques 17:37  |  arthur 07/04/08
      59.   Ben Eliezer 17:37  |  Dani 07/04/08
      60.   All Dogs Could Bark In Their Own Yard! 17:38  |  Cool B 07/04/08
      61.   Leon Rosgarten- explain to me... 17:38  |  Avrum 07/04/08
      62.   47 arthur from france,your irony is noted! However,comparisons 17:42  |  lakshmi 07/04/08
      63.   Ben-Eliezer must have a very small you..... 17:47  |  Deborah 07/04/08
      64.   Cool B # 59 _ Your Post Would Be sensible If 17:48  |  Eli 07/04/08
      65.   15 Rowan Berkely,bernard Lewis is well known for his racism 17:49  |  lakshmi 07/04/08
      66.   Unlike agressive Israel Iran hasn`t attacked.... 17:49  |  Deborah 07/04/08
      67.   durson iranian agenda 17:55  |  arthur 07/04/08
      68.   ERSB # 14 the reason iran dosen`t attack israel directly is 17:59  |  terrornator 07/04/08
      69.   patrick : history 18:04  |  arthur 07/04/08
      70.   arthur 18:05  |  Natallie Durson 07/04/08