Mofaz: Israel preparing to thwart Iran nuke threat

By JPOST STAFF, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Israel will not accept a nuclear Iran under any circumstance and is preparing for the possibility that diplomacy will fail to halt Tehran's nuclear aspirations, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Saturday. Mofaz, speaking at the high-profile Herzliya Conference, stopped short of saying Israel would take military action to thwart Iran's nuclear program, but said "Israel will not be able to accept in any way an Iranian nuclear capability and it must have the capability to defend itself ... and this we are preparing." He did, however, emphasize that Israel supports first and foremost a diplomatic solution, and that he believes that international sanctions against Iran are a correct plan of action. Iran says its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, but Israel and the United States accuse Tehran of working to build weapons of mass destruction.