Reuters AlertNet Lite - Israel's Olmert calls for dramatic measures against Iran

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Israel's Olmert calls for dramatic measures against Iran

09 Dec 2006 11:36:14 GMT
Source: Reuters

BERLIN, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called for more dramatic measures to be taken against Iran and declined to rule out a military attack against Tehran in an interview with Germany's Spiegel magazine.

Olmert criticised the international community's hesitation in dealing with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The West fears Iran's nuclear programme is aimed at developing nuclear weapons but Tehran denies this.

"I am anything but happy," Olmert was quoted as saying in an interview released ahead of publication on Sunday.

"I expect significantly more dramatic steps to be taken. Here is a leader who says openly that it is his aim to wipe Israel off the map. Israel is a member of the United Nations."

"That someone says such a thing these days is absolutely criminal."

When asked if he would not rule out a military strike against Tehran, Olmert replied: "I rule nothing out."

Olmert repeated he was prepared to withdraw from the majority of settlements in the occupied West Bank.

"A prime minister should not make promises that he cannot keep but my message is clear: I am prepared to give up regions. That means that I am ready to evacuate territories. You know how hard this is," he said.

"And we are ready to do this in such a way that would allow the Palestinians in the West Bank to have a contiguous state. I am not making any conditions which would not be made by the international community."

Olmert is due to visit Germany on Tuesday and will hold a joint press conference with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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Last updated:Sat Dec 9 11:37:46 2006