Clashes between Israel and the United States are not desirable, but the
two allies have dealt with similar disagreements before, Deputy Prime
Minister Dan Meridor said Sunday morning in relation to the Iranian
threat.
In an interview with Israel Radio, the Intelligence
Agencies Minister said that the alliance between Washington and
Jerusalem crosses the lines of parties and establishments, and bears
political, security and economic significance.
Meridor
added that Israel has succeeded in bringing the issue of Iran's nuclear
program to international awareness, and the sanctions have caused
Tehran to fear the world's reaction to its nuclear program.
However,
Meridor said, Iran has not halted its nuclear program and continues to
enrich uranium. "It is important that Iran understand that the world is
serious and determined to stop it from acquiring a nuclear bomb."
On Thursday, Meridor spoke out against setting red lines for Iran, in remarks that contrasted with those recently asserted by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
"I don't want to set red lines or deadlines for myself," he told Army Radio, when asked how much time remained before force against Iran should be used.
Meridor urged the international community to intensify sanctions against Tehran, "so it understands that the price it is paying is mounting and that the only way to be rid of it is to stop the (nuclear) race, to arrive at an agreement, or an international understanding, that it is calling it quits."
"You always consider other options, for when everything else is exhausted. And I think that, for now, we have to continue with the pressure," he added.
Without mentioning names, Meridor lamented what he called "the excessive chit-chat of recent months" in Israel about how and whether to tackle its arch-foe.
Reuters contributed to this report