Ehud Barak to Yediot Aharonoth:
- “I am not among those who believe Iran is an existential issue for Israel.”
Barak said “Israel is strong, I don’t see anyone who could pose an existential threat,” although he did add that he viewed Iran as a challenge to the whole world.
(HT: Stephen Walt.)
The Reuters report linked to above takes care to note– as few US media would*– that,
- Israel is assumed to possess the only atomic arsenal in the Middle East.
I would modify that a bit. Israel’s is the only ground-based nuclear arsenal in the region that we know of. However, a portion of the US Navy vessels plying the region’s waters can also be assumed to have them.
Still, it is excellent that Barak is on the record with this statement.
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* Update: But MJ Rosenberg noted this in his very informative post on the topic at TPM Cafe.