Olmert urged to quit after letting slip what everyone knows: Israel is a nuclear power

Telegraph (U.K). ^ | Dec 13, 2006 | Tim Butcher and Kate Connolly

[jdm]

Israel's prime minister, Ehud Olmert, faced calls from opposition MPs to resign yesterday after he let slip during a television interview that his country had nuclear weapons.

While Israel's status as a nuclear power since the 1960s is widely known, its political and military leaders have traditionally refused to confirm or deny they have nuclear weapons.

Mr Olmert deviated from that script when he put Israel in the category of nuclear powers during a question and answer session about Iran. "Iran openly, explicitly and publicly threatens to wipe Israel off the map," he said on German television. "Can you say that this is the same level, when they are aspiring to have nuclear weapons, as France, America, Russia and Israel?"

The comments were taken by some as proof that he wanted to send a signal to Iran as it seeks to acquire nuclear weapons. But, with all governments in the region likely to be already aware of Israel's nuclear capability, the most plausible explanation was that he had simply made an error.

The gaffe overshadowed Mr Olmert's two-day visit to Germany and he became testy when asked about the issue during a press conference with Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor.

He reverted to the form of words used by Israeli government officials for decades when discussing the nuclear question when he said: "Israel will not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons to the region."

Yuval Steinitz, an opposition MP from the Right-wing Likud party, said Mr Olmert should resign. "His unfortunate statement in Germany harms Israel's 50-year policy of ambiguity," he said. Yossi Beilin, head of the Left-wing Meretz movement, said: "The amazing statement regarding nuclear capability indicates a lack of caution bordering on irresponsibility and elicits a great doubt whether this person is fit to serve as prime minister."

[mewzilla]

Let slip?

Snort.

[etradervic]

A clumsy warning to Iran.

[Farmer Dean]

Now that he"let it slip",maybe it's time they released a list of Arab targets that would be hit.Just in case Iran decides to do something stupid.

[zook]

Any Israeli who "urges" him to resign--over this--is insane. It's clear from Olmert's words that he was placing Israel among reasoned, freedom loving democracies. That was the point, not whether or who had a bomb.

[JerseyHighlander]

Olmert should be removed with a vote of no confidence, he shouldn't be given the face saving exit of resignation. The schmuck has shown himself fully incompetent outside of doling out money to special interest blocs to keep power.

With Olmert I've come to this realization,

Never attribute to hidden strategy that which is adequately explained by incompetence.

[Cicero]

The man is a total idiot, an incompetent, incapable of doing his job. He makes Jimmy Carter look like a genius in comparison.

[Farmer Dean]

Worse than Carter?Ol'Jimmah is the gold standard of idiots.

[fat city]

Back in the 1950's, an old army buddy of my father's was on an archeological dig in the desert in Israel when he came upon a nuclear reactor. He reported it to the U.S. government who had no idea that Israel had nuclear ambitions. He wound up Consulate General of Netherlands.

I think, in the interest of self-preservation and with great foresight, that nuclear weapon development was one of the first pursuits of the young nation.

[Sarah]

Just add this statement to all his claims and promises during the latest fighting in Lebanon.
He has no control over his mouth.
Reminds me of this yiddish saying:
Until you speak you are the ruler of your words, but once pronounced, they rule you.
He made so many unkept promises he ruined his credibility.

[hosepipe]

Isreal also has submarines with Inter-Muslimcide missles..

[wolf78]

It's clear from Olmert's words that he was placing Israel among reasoned, freedom loving democracies.

You know, he did mention France in that same sentence. ;-)

[Cicero]

Yes, too late to lock the stable door, as the saying goes. Everyone knows that Israel has the bomb, and we even have a good idea how many. But from now on the enemies of Israel can quote Olmert as official confirmation that Israel has the bomb.

And Israel's enemies now have been presented with a new propaganda theme to work: namely, that Israel cannot be permitted to exist unless they give up their nuclear weapons. We can be sure that the UN will soon be pursuing that line, and no doubt the Democrats will make it one of their campaign themes.