Israeli officials: Iran vote shows growing threat

Associated Press / Karin Laub (2009-06-13)

The apparent re-election of hardline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad underscores the growing threat posed by Tehran and its nuclear ambitions, two senior Israeli politicians said Saturday, urging the world not to engage in dialogue with Iran.

Israeli officials: Iran vote shows growing threat

Associated Press / Karin Laub (2009-06-13)

JERUSALEM (AP) — The apparent re-election of hardline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad underscores the growing threat posed by Tehran and its nuclear ambitions, two senior Israeli politicians said Saturday, urging the world not to engage in dialogue with Iran.

However, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon and Vice Premier Silvan Shalom expressed their personal views and not those of the Israeli government, said government spokesman Mark Regev. He said it was not clear when the Israeli government would make a formal statement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has argued that Iran’s nuclear ambitions, not Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians, should occupy the world’s attention.

Friction has been growing between Israel and the U.S. over Netanyahu’s refusal to endorse the idea of Palestinian statehood and a settlement freeze, as sought by the Obama administration.

Netanyahu is to deliver a major policy speech Sunday to clarify his positions. An election victory by hardliners in Iran could strengthen his argument.

A count in Iran pointed to a landslide victory by Ahmadinejad, though his opponent, reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi, denounced the results as “treason” and threatened a challenge.

Despite the fluid situation, the statements by Ayalon and Shalom presumed an Ahmadinejad victory.

“If we had an any shred of hope for change in Iran, the re-election of Ahmadinejad demonstrates the increasing Iranian threat,” Ayalon said in a text message sent to news organizations.

Ayalon also said that there was no difference between the incumbent and Mousavi concerning “the nuclear issue and terror,” an apparent reference to Iran’s support for the Palestinian militant faction Hamas and the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah.

“With the results of the Iranian elections, the international community has to stop the Iran’s nuclear problem and terrorism from Iran immediately,” Ayalon said.

Shalom, who also serves as Israel’s minister for regional cooperation, said in a statement: “The election results in Iran are blowing up in the face of those who thought that Iran is built for real dialogue with the free world, concerning its nuclear program.”

The Palestinians also watched the Iranian vote closely. Iran is a major patron of Hamas, the Islamic militant group that overran Gaza two years ago, ousting the forces loyal to Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Abbas and his aides have in the past accused Iran of meddling in Palestinian affairs and making Palestinian reconciliation more difficult.

An Abbas aide, Saeb Erekat, hinted at Iran’s role Saturday. “We want Iran to take the side of Palestine, not this faction or that faction,” he said.