10 January 1997 Tel Aviv Ma'ariv
If the Peace Process Wakes Up - - So Will Terror
by 'Oded GranotTel Aviv Ma'ariv, 10 January 1997
[FBIS Translated Excerpt] [passage omitted] As 1997 begins, authoritative Israeli sources believe that the Iranians have not forsaken their intention to stop the peace process at all cost. "The minute the peace process restarts and catches momentum -- when the Hebron agreement is signed or if negotiations with the Syrians resume -- there is no doubt that the Iranians will reenter the ring and Israel will be exposed to concentrated terrorist activity on their part," senior defense establishment sources have said. They have several options for activating terrorism in Israel: Islamic Jihad and other terrorist squads, Iranian intelligence services, or the apparatus of Hizballah and 'Imad Maghniyah, through the Revolutionary Guards. Terrorism is just one of the means the Iranians have for the attainment of their strategic goal: the destruction of Israel. Another means is accelerated arms procurement. While experts believe that Tehran's efforts to obtain a nuclear bomb will not prove successful for another eight to 10 years, there is quite a good chance that Iran will develop long-range missiles that can strike at the heart of Israel within three to five years. The reason: The Russians are gradually taking the place of North Korea in providing Iran with know-how and helping it attain an ability to develop missiles with a range of 1,300 km and up. "I only hope that the Americans will intervene in time and stop these dangerous projects," a senior political source said in Jerusalem. [passage omitted] THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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