AJC Board Hears Defense Minister

Israel Defense Minister Tells AJC Iran is Number One Threat March 21, 2006 – Tel Aviv – “The Iranian president’s threat to remove Israel from the global map is the most important challenge facing the Jewish state,” Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told the American Jewish Committee today. ”The moment Iran will have nuclear capability it will be a different world,” he said.   “Iran will continue to support terrorism activities, and be a leader of the Axis of Evil, all under a nuclear umbrella.” He emphasized that Iran’s desire to develop nuclear weapons threatens many countries, not just Israel, and without American and European action, and UN sanctions, it will be difficult to stop Iran. The defense minister addressed a luncheon of the AJC Board of Governors at Tel Aviv University. The more than 200 AJC leaders are in Israel this week to celebrate the organization’s centennial. “AJC will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with Israel in its enduring quest for peace and security,” said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. In addition to Iran, the defense minister discussed the current challenges posed by the Hamas electoral victory in the Palestinian legislative elections, the threat on Israel’s northern border coming from Syria and Iran via Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the continuing efforts of Al-Qaeda to strike directly at Israel. Regarding the Palestinians, Mofaz declared that Hamas must recognize Israel, dismantle completely all terror organizations in Gaza and the West Bank, and adopt all existing agreements the Palestinian Authority signed with Israel. These are the minimal conditions set by the international community. “Without this Hamas will continue to be a terror organization and we cannot speak with a terror organization about peace,” Mofaz said. Given that Israel lost more than 1,000 lives at the hands of Palestinian terrorist organizations during the past five years, the defense minister stressed that Israel must be mindful of the character of the Palestinian Authority. “The state of Israel and the people of Israel will not cower before terrorism,” said Mofaz. If the new Palestinian government “chooses the path of continuing terror activity, we will only have the choice of fighting terror organizations, including Hamas.” Regarding Israel’s northern border, Mofaz said the UN Security Council must press immediately for full implementation of its resolution 1559, which had called for a full Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, the dismantling of Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah offices in Damascus, and allowing Lebanese forces to take control of the southern part of the country up to the border with Israel. On Al Qaeda, the defense minister reported that the terrorist group is getting closer to Israel. It already has struck in Egypt and Jordan, has fired rockets from Lebanon into Israel, and has terrorists in the Palestinian territories, he said. Notwithstanding these challenges, Mofaz said, “Today we have a better security situation for the people of Israel.” Sixth months after the disengagement from Gaza, not one Israeli soldier or civilian has been injured by terror activity from the Gaza Strip, he said.

To remove yourself from all mailings from American Jewish Committee, please click here.

To modify your profile, please click here.