Haaretz
Shvat 4, 5767
The Iranian threat was at the forefront of the
strategic dialogue between Israel and the United States that took place in
Tel Aviv yesterday. The Israeli and American teams, headed respectively by
Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz and Under Secretary of State Nicholas
Burns, discussed ways to halt Iran's nuclear program, its support for
terror and its attempts to expand its regional power and influence.
Burns began by quoting U.S. President George Bush's statement that
while "all options are on the table," the focus is currently on the
diplomatic effort. The participants therefore discussed ways of imposing
sanctions on Iran, while the Americans explained their efforts to impede
Iran's cash flow. They said that this, combined with Bush's decision to
send a second aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf, signals Tehran that
America is serious.
The parties also discussed Iran's efforts to
undermine regional stability, the growing fear of Iranian power in Saudi
Arabia and the Gulf states, and Iran's ties with Syria, Hezbollah and
Palestinian terror organizations. Mofaz said that it would be wrong to
despair of halting Iran's nuclear program, as much can still be done.
The parties agreed to continue the dialogue through various
channels in the coming months and to forge a joint policy on Iran. In
May-June, the strategic dialogue will reconvene officially in Washington.
New Iraq strategy
The Americans also explained
America's new strategy in Iraq and briefed the Israelis on the conference
of Lebanese donor states due to take in the coming days. Washington
intends to pledge about $1 billion to rebuild Lebanon following last
summer's war with Israel, they said, and it expects the Europeans and
Saudi Arabia to make hefty pledges as well.
Israel's delegation to
the talks included Mofaz; Ambassador to Britain Ron Prosor, who
coordinated preparations for the talks in his previous capacity; Defense
Ministry Director General Gabi Ashkenazi; Foreign Ministry Director
General Aharon Abramovitch; Atomic Energy Commission Director Gideon
Frank; National Security Council Chairman Ilan Mizrahi; Shalom Turjeman,
who is Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's political advisor; and representatives
of the intelligence community. The U.S. delegation included Burns; Deputy
Defense Secretary Gordon England, the most senior Pentagon official to
visit Israel in recent years; Robert Danin of the State Department;
representatives of the army and intelligence agencies; and Ambassador to
Israel Richard Jones.