|
Trending Topics
|
Source: http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/05/peres.php
Shimon Peres on Iran: Overreaction Is Better than Underreaction
[Atlantic Monthly] Interview with Jeffrey Goldberg - President Shimon Peres: The greatest asset for Israel, both moral and strategic, is our relationship with the United States. We should not permit any rift, any rupture. This remains our top consideration. And since Iran is a world problem, we should participate in facing its dangers, but without trying to monopolize it. Q: Is there a chance that Israel is over-reacting to the language that comes out of Tehran? Peres: If we have to make a mistake of overreaction or underreaction, I think I prefer the overreaction to underreaction....If there is a threat, if there is a danger, and we ignore it, we lose. Q: There's a growing feeling in some quarters that Israel is not a strategic asset to America. Peres: Israel is the only country that has destroyed two generations of Russian weapons. Completely. I know that to produce weapons is an advantage, but to destroy competitive arms is also an advantage. We did it. Even today, strategically, I don't say that Israel is part of the American defense, but as an ally, politically and militarily, I don't think that we are passive or unimportant concerning information, intelligence, understanding the region. Imagine the Middle East without Israel.