Israel Says Attacking Iran is Last Resort
Israel’s deputy prime minister says his country has not ruled out attacking Iran’s nuclear plants but prefers diplomacy for now.
Shaul Mofaz said Israel would attack Iran only as a last resort to prevent Iran from acquiring more nuclear material, the Voice of America reported Saturday.
At this time, international sanctions are the right course of action and they should be intensified, Mofaz said in a radio interview.
 Mofaz and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met in Washington this week and agreed to review the sanctions at year’s end.Â
Israel became increasingly alarmed about Iran’s nuclear program in late 2005, when the Iranian president threatened to wipe the Jewish state off the map, Mofaz said.
 Mofaz said Israel also is interested in reviving peace talks with Syria, which collapsed seven years ago. Israel is prepared to withdraw from the strategic Golan Heights in exchange for peace with Syria, Israeli news organizations reported Friday.