Yadlin: The only existential threat to Israel is Iran

Former IDF Intel chief warns that if Iran obtains nuclear weapons, more Middle Eastern countries would subsequently become nuclear-armed.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Amos Yadlin 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Amos Yadlin 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Former IDF Military Intelligence chief Amos Yadlin on Tuesday stated that "the only existential threat to Israel in the year 2011 and in the years that follow, is Iran," Army Radio reported. Yadlin made the comments at a conference in Tel Aviv.
Yadlin said that if Iran succeeded in obtaining nuclear weapons, additional Middle Eastern countries would subsequently become nuclear-armed.
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The former Intel chief warned that a nuclear armed Iran would be much more aggressive than the Islamic Republic currently is today.
Yadlin said that even the Israeli-Palestinian peace process would be negatively affected if Iran succeeded in obtaining nuclear weapons.
Amos Yadlin was outspoken about the threat that Iran poses to Israel during his five-year tenure as head of Military Intelligence. The 59-year-old veteran air force pilot handed over command of IDF Intel to Aviv Kochavi in November. At his final briefing to the cabinet, Yadlin said that Iran's threat to Israel was not solely the result of its nuclear aspirations.
“Iran’s tentacles extend to all those who are working against Israel,” he said. “In the next confrontation there is a likelihood that more than one front may erupt, and Tel Aviv will be turned into the front lines.”
A US State Department cable uncovered by WikiLeaks in Novemeber described a meeting between Yadlin and US Congressman Robert Wexler (D-Florida) in which the Intel chief said that Israel is not in a position to underestimate Iran and be surprised like the United States was on 9/11.
“Iran intends to keep resolutions and sanctions at a certain manageable level and continue to produce low-enriched uranium until there is enough for several bombs,” Yadlin said, according to the cable.
By the end of 2009, Military Intelligence, according to another cable, held the view that by 2012 Iran could build one nuclear bomb within weeks or an arsenal within half a year.
Yaakov Katz contributed to this report
Click here for full Jpost coverage of the Iranian threat
Click here for full Jpost coverage of the Iranian threat