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Sharon Aide Urges War Against Egypt And Iran
JERUSALEM, Jan 22 (IslamOnline) - A leading aide of Israeli frontrunner and right-wing leader Likud Ariel Sharon, said Sharon should launch military strikes against both Egypt and Iran if elected on February 6th, Israeli Television reported Sunday.
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Is Our Home Party), a principal coalition member allied with the Likud, told a closed-door meeting of prominent right-wing politicians on Sunday that Israel should pound both Egypt and Iran or else "Israeli interests would be at risk."
"We have to get ready to hit Egypt where it hurts the most," Lieberman was reported as saying. "We shouldn't rule out the possibility of bombarding the Aswan High Dam. They should learn that if our interests are risked, theirs will be jeopardized - gravely."
The Aswan High Dam, located more than 1,000 kilometers south of Cairo, is Egypt's main source for energy and is pivotal in Egypt's irrigation system.
Lieberman, who could take a ministerial post if Sharon, the leading prime ministerial candidate in recent opinion polls, said that Iran was another threat to Israel that should be dealt with.
"We have to be able to reach Tehran," Lieberman said. "Once we are there, we will need to redraw the maps there. All factories that make weapons should be annihilated."
Egypt and Iran are both regional powers. Iran says it has developed long-range missiles that could reach Tel Aviv. Egypt fought four wars with Israel before they signed a peace treaty in 1979 after a historic visit by then Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.
Lieberman called for forging a front with Russia against "the Muslim world," stating that "there [is] common ground for Russia and us to work against the Islamic threat."
Members of the Knesset - Israel's parliament - responded angrily to Lieberman. Elli Goldschemit of the Labor Party described Lieberman's statements as "sheer stupidity".
Goldschemit said: "Any coalition between Israel and Russia is a losing one. To whose benefit should we antagonize a billion Muslims?"
The Internet edition of the Israeli daily, The Jerusalem Post said the comments came on the heels of hawkish remarks from Moledet party leader Rehavam Ze'evi and National Religious Party leader Yitzhak Levy about how a Sharon government would operate.
According to the newspaper, Likud campaign figures expressed concern yesterday that the remarks could harm the moderate-leaning Sharon campaign, especially since Lieberman has begun appearing in Sharon campaign propaganda.
Yisrael Beiteinu, Lieberman's party, has endorsed Sharon and is campaigning actively on his behalf.
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