Livni: Iran nearing 'point of no return'
amir mizroch, THE JERUSALEM POST Nov. 13, 2006
At a briefing with journalists following her speech at the United
Jewish Communities General Assembly in Los Angeles, Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livni told The Jerusalem Post that Iran was less
than two years away from reaching the point where it could enrich
uranium, what she, and others, have termed "the point of no return"
where Iran would need no outside technical or material assistance
to produce nuclear weapons.
The point of no return, in Israel's case, she said, is not when
Iran "gets the bomb", but when it has reached the capability of
producing one.
Israel is also worried that possible Security Council sanctions on
Iran won't be effective enough to make Teheran change course and
cease enrichment, Livni added.
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Livni told the assembly that the time had come for the
international community to put aside its financial interests in
Iran and work together to stop Teheran's drive to attain nuclear
capability.
"Iran denies the Holocaust and seeks the weapons to perpetrate one.
If the promise of 'Never Again' supersedes the price of oil then
the time for international indifference and hesitation in the face
of the Iranian threat has long passed," the foreign minister said.
Livni received a standing ovation by GA delegates at the conclusion
of her remarks.
"Last summer, we experienced a confrontation between Israel and
Iran. Though the war took place in Lebanon, it was the case of a
rogue State, Iran, and its proxy, the Hizbullah, abusing a weak
State, Lebanon, to advance a radical and hate-filled agenda," Livni
said.
Several Israeli ministers are in attendance at this year's GA,
whose theme is "Together on the Front Line: One People, One
Destiny." The message from the ministers, including Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert, Tourism Minister Isaac Herzog and Education Minister
Yuli Tamir, will first and foremost be one of thanks to US Jewry
for their financial, physical, and moral support during and after
the latest war in Lebanon.
"I came here to say thank you. It is important for us to know that
we are not alone. During the war we saw our Jewish brothers and
sisters stepping up to help - organizing rallies, coming on
solidarity missions, university scholarships for students called up
for army duty, air-conditioners for bomb shelters, camps for the
children of the north and so much more, contributing with
extraordinary generosity and thoughtfulness - with unconditional
kindness," Livni said.
The foreign minister also addressed the issue of ties between
Israel and the Diaspora, saying there was a need to foster the
relationship and not take it for granted.
"As an Israeli, I have to ask myself whether we are not in danger
of creating a new Israeli identity that feels removed from its
Jewish heritage, and a result, from the Jewish Diaspora. I am sure,
too, that you ask yourselves whether there is a risk that Jewish
identity in the Diaspora is evolving in such a way that the deep
connection to Israel may, in time, no longer be one of its central
pillars."
"I believe strongly that we share a responsibility to prevent a
rift developing between Israeli identity and Jewish identity.
Together, we need to ensure that Jewish children throughout the
Diaspora see Israel as their home, just as the Jewish children of
Israel must see you as their family," Livni said.
Livni also wished all the newly elected and the returning Members
of Congress "Mazal Tov" and said the special relationship between
Israel and the United States crosses party lines.
Also speaking at the event, Jewish Agency Chairman Ze'ev Bielsky
said US Jews "were there for us [Israelis] when we needed
you."
Bielsky added that due to financial assistance from the Jewish
Federations, and through the UJC, the Jewish Agency was able to
evacuate 40,000 Israeli children from "the line of fire in the
North" to the center of the country. Bielsky added that there were
plans afoot to provide scholarships to students wishing to study in
educational institutions in northern Israel. "Our priority now is
to strengthen the Galilee, the Negev and Jerusalem," Bielsky
said.
The UJC managed to raise $342 million for the Israel Emergency
Campaign during the war.
The plenary session drew 2,600 of 5,000 GA participants, and
culminated with a stirring recital of "Hatikvah," Israel's national
anthem, by a jazz saxophonist, that brought the crowd to its feet,
singing.
The plenary also featured an array of political and public leaders
and entertainment figures, including actors Jeff Goldblum, Mare
Winningham and Jon Voight; screenwriter and filmmaker Dan Gordon;
musicians Debbie Friedman, Mike Burstyn, Julie Silver and Los
Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.