Amos Gilad: Iran is Israel's main threat

“We need to know how to prioritize what to deal with first. In my opinion, we’re talking about the Iranian front.”

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Amos Gilad 311 (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons (CC) by Hanay)
Amos Gilad 311
(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons (CC) by Hanay)
Senior Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad warned on Friday that Iran is Israel’s principal threat and should be prioritized as such by leaders in Jerusalem.
Speaking at the Ashkelon Academic College, Gilad admitted that there is no immediate nuclear threat, but said “there is certainly great motivation and determination [for one]” in Iran.
Israel has never had to deal with security on so many fronts, Gilad said. “We need to know how to prioritize what to deal with first. In my opinion, we’re talking about the Iranian front.”
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, he added, see and understand the depth of that threat and the danger it poses to Israel.
Asked whether Israel should attack Iran, the Defense Ministry official said, “all options are open.”
He discussed Iran’s motivation to destroy Israel and its practical capabilities in achieving its goal. “[Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah] Khamenei says that Israel has no place. Iran believes that it needs to be an empire equal in strength to the United States. That is the motivation driving the development of Iran’s missile capabilities.
“As of now the Iranians have enriched uranium. Today the situation is that they are on the starting line – there is uranium, the knowledge is there, but they are not producing” nuclear weapons.