Ruling Iranian cleric Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani
declared Friday that the Muslim world could survive a nuclear
exchange with Israel - while accomplishing the goal of obliterating
the Jewish state.
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005 12:55 a.m. EST
Iranian Cleric: Muslims Could Nuke Israel
Ruling Iranian cleric Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani
declared Friday that the Muslim world could survive a nuclear
exchange with Israel - while accomplishing the goal of obliterating
the Jewish state.
"[The] application of an atomic bomb would not leave anything in
Israel - but the same thing would just produce damages in the
Muslim world," Hashemi-Rafsanjani said, in quotes picked up by the
Iran Press Service.
"If a day comes when the world of Islam is duly equipped with the
arms Israel has in possession, the strategy of colonialism would
face a stalemate," he posited.
Analysts told IPS that Mr. Hashemi-Rafsanjanis speech, delivered
at a Tehran prayer service, was the first time that a prominent
Islamic leader openly suggested a nuclear attack against the
Israel.
Six weeks ago, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a "World
Without Zionism" conference that Israel should be "wiped off the
map."
Last week, United Nations nuclear watchdog Mohammed ElBaradei said
Iran would be able to produce nuclear weapons in a matter of
months.
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Can the world survive a nuclear
warfare? 