Epstein Secrets

he said Al-Monitor How do you read the flurry of recent Israeli media reports telegraphing Israeli leaders, particularly Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, contemplating a possible fall strike on Iran? Kahl I think the threat should be taken very seriously. The s

plating a possible fall strike on Iran? Kahl I think the threat should be taken very seriously. The standard counter argument is that Netanyahu and Barak are bluffing with the goal of pushing the international community to act — meaning pressuring us and the Europeans to increase sanctions, the Russ

i leaders, particularly Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, con

nous anti-Zionism. Perhaps Mr. Ban entertains a hope that he can single-handedly persuade Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to end their quest for nuclear weapons. That assumes that the United Nations leader has more clout than anyone else who has tried. We're told that

est danger of all could soon be upon us: a militant Islamic regime armed with nuclear weapons." In a Feb. 2 speech in Israel, Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Barak channeled Begin in making the case for possible military action against Iran, arguing that "those who say `later' may find that later is too late."

a Feb. 2 speech in Israel, Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Barak channeled Begin in making the case for pos

the IAEA has documented, Iran is putting all the pieces in place to have the option to develop nuclear weapons at some point. Were Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to decide tomorrow to go for a bomb, Iran probably has the technical capability to produce a testable nuclear device in about a year and a missile-

cing severe sanctions, so it's not a "freebie." Are there still tensions between the United States and Israel on this? Just before these meetings, Ehud Barak, the Israeli defense minister, gave an interview in which he said it is imperative for Iran to stop producing 20 percent enrichment and close the F

and Israel on this? Just before these meetings, Ehud Barak, the Israeli defense minister, gave an int

y because Israelis are more concerned and sensitive about some of those technologies. What's your sense of Iranian policy on this? Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says that nuclear weapons are "a sin," but do you think Iran's policy is still to develop nuclear weapons? I think their policy at the very least i

tary cooperation and Germany's role, albeit usually under the condition of anonymity. "In the end, it's very simple," says Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. "Germany is helping to defend Israel's security. The Germans can be proud of the fact that they have secured the existence of the State of Israel

it's very simple," says Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. "Germany is helping to defend Israel's se

unclear how Israel would have acted if a Scud missile tipped with nerve gas had hit a residential area. Only Netanyahu and Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, probably know how close the world stands today to a new war. The Israeli prime minister and Khamenei have "one thing in common," says Walther Sti

Mahmoud Abbas, having turned down every one of Ehud Olmert's peace offers, brazenly declares that

council is a 12- member commission that must validate the elections before an official winner can be declared. Council members are appointed by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, and the head of the judiciary. The council vets candi- dates and has the power to veto laws deemed inconsis- tent with Is