nuclear-news

Israeli citizens reach out for friendship with Iranians

Amid war fears, Israelis reach out to Iran, Gulf News, 26 March 12, Citizens use social media, build website and set up an art exhibit to show opposition to Tel Aviv’s threats  “….. a small but growing number of Israelis trying to reach out to Iranians, even as Israeli
politicians warn with growing frequency and intensity that Israel might strike to halt Tehran’s suspected nuclear weapons program.

Israelis mounted an art exhibit in Tel Aviv centered on Iran, built a
website in Farsi with news of Israeli daily life, and protested on
Saturday against a potential strike on Iranian nuclear installations.
They have also posted images endlessly shared on Facebook against a
war with Iran.
First time
Meir Javedanfar, an Israeli expert on Iran, said that this marks the
first time Israelis have reached out in such a way to another nation
in the Middle East. Has it had impact in Iran so far? That’s not clear
yet, though Israelis say Iranians are responding positively to the
Internet outreach. But it appears unlikely that any goodwill being
generated by civilians will sway governments. In Israel, surveys show
that a majority oppose a solo Israeli attack on Iran without American
military cooperation.
Retired Israeli military and intelligence leaders have advised against
striking Iran, arguing that Israel doesn’t have enough bomb shelters
or gas masks to absorb a possible Iranian counterattack.
“Despite all this, our prime minister wants to take us to war,” said
Tzvika Besor, a Tel Aviv marketing agent who organised Saturday’s
protest. “And we say no.”
A few hundred Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, holding
signs reading “No to war”.
And another prominent Israeli added his voice in opposition on
Saturday. Former Defence Minister Amir Peretz said Israel shouldn’t be
the one taking on the entire Arab and Muslim world when it was clear
Israel would be blamed the day after.
http://gulfnews.com/news/region/iran/amid-war-fears-israelis-reach-out-to-iran-1.999581

March 26, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general