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ANDREW LICHTENSTEIN for TIME
TOUGH TALK: Mofaz says Israel might respond if attacked by Iraq |
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"If We're Attacked, Israel Is Obliged to Defend Itself" |
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As his country prepares for possible Iraqi attack, Israeli defense minister SHAUL MOFAZ, 54, talked with TIME's Matt Rees and Aharon Klein about the effect of war, and the need to retaliate
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What changes do you think a war will bring in the Middle East? It's a clear message to Iraq, Iran and Libya, and other states that don't have peace treaties with us, that nonconventional capabilities and support for terror are things the U.S. won't allow. These states embody an Unholy Trinity: extreme regimes, nonconventional capabilities that they are trying to extend to nuclear weapons, and support for terror. There is a dimension you can't avoid on the Palestinian front, too. [Palestinian leader Yasser] Arafat is a terrorist. The Palestinians must choose a different leadership that won't make compromises with terror.
If there is an Iraqi Scud attack on Israel, will you retaliate or refrain, as Israel did in the 1991 Gulf War? The reality of 1991 won't repeat itself. The chances that we'll be attacked are low. But if we're attacked, Israel is obliged to defend itself and its civilians. This time it must be clear to everyone who might endanger us, especially the Iraqis, that Israel reserves the right to retaliate.
What if the attack is with nonconventional weapons? We are a sovereign state, but we are also a responsible state. We won't retaliate automatically. It will be only after an assessment. The ties we have with the Americans are so strong that we won't carry out automatic actions.
how likely is it that Scuds might actually land in Israel? The threat from western Iraq is low. But this threat exists. We assume that American activity in western Iraq is going to be much more massive and more intensive than in 1991. It's going to minimize the possibility of Iraq launching any missiles. The chance is low, but our readiness is high.
How long do you think a war will last? The surprising thing in this war is going to be the power of the American action in the first stages of the battle. I assess that the war's going to take weeks, but the overall stay for the Americans is going to be quite long. Maybe it's going to be a year or two, or even more, to be sure that in Iraq there's no chaos.
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