MIDDLE EAST TIMES: Israel escalated its campaign Thursday against the winner of the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the international nuclear watchdog, by describing him as a “danger to world peace” and calling for his dismissal for what it says are his policies towards Iran’s nuclear program.
The call by Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz on public radio came as the Jewish state has been trying to undermine ElBaradei’s credibility and just days before the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is due to publish a crucial new report on Iran’s nuclear program.
The international community will rely on the agency’s upcoming report to further their discussions at the UN on whether to impose a third set of sanctions on Iran to pressure it to abandon its nuclear program.
“The policies followed by ElBaradei endanger world peace,” Mofaz said, a day after he held talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington. “His irresponsible attitude of sticking his head in the sand over Iran’s nuclear program should lead to his impeachment.”
These were the strongest Israeli statements yet against ElBaradei, an Egyptian whom Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert recently said was “no fan of Zion.”
The call for ElBaradei’s dismissal came a day after the Israeli security cabinet met to raise pressure on Iran and to find ways to convince the international community to strengthen sanctions on Tehran. Israel escalates campaign against IAEA (more)
Mark Alexander
