IMRA: One would have expected the following revellation to lead to calls for
an inquiry into why the Government of Israel ignored such a clear message:

"During one of the Palestinian conferences I was able to infiltrate, Yasser
Arafat reiterated what he had said his entire life: 'We will build a
Palestinian system of many separate military units; only in this way will we
be able to defeat the Jews and expel them to the sea'," ]

Minister Eitan: Israel in no position to attack Iran

Pensioners' Affairs minister says, 'Iran will produce operational nuclear
bomb within 3-10 years; Israel cannot attack without Washington's consent.'
Adds: No chance of reaching agreement with Palestinians in near future
Moran Zelikovich YNET 20 May 2006
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3252826,00.html

Pensioners' Affairs Minister Rafi Eitan said Friday, "according to
intelligence information Iran will produce an operational nuclear bomb
within 3-10 years," adding that Israel has been left to deal with the
situation on its own as the US under the Bush Administration will not attack
Iran.

Speaking before members of the Trade and Industry Club in Tel Aviv, Eitan
said, "I believe that there is no power in the world that can prevent Iran
from producing a nuclear bomb. Currently Israel does not have the
military-political option of attacking Iran, as the US controls the Persian
Gulf, Iran and Iraq area," he said.

"We cannot attack without Washington's consent," Eitan said. "Bush is weak
within the US, and the chance that he'll launch an attack against Iran is
slim. I don't think sanctions will affect Iran in its quest for a bomb. The
threat is not only directed toward Israel, but also at Arab and other
countries."

Turning his attention to Israeli-Palestinian relations, Eitan said, "there
is no chance of reaching an agreement with the Palestinians in the near
future."

'Arafat realized his vision'

Eitan, who served as Mossad's director of operations for many years, said
"such agreements can be reached, but they wouldn't be worth anything at this
stage of our lives."

"During one of the Palestinian conferences I was able to infiltrate, Yasser
Arafat reiterated what he had said his entire life: 'We will build a
Palestinian system of many separate military units; only in this way will we
be able to defeat the Jews and expel them to the sea'," he said.

"Arafat realized his vision and built separate units that were added to the
PLO's military wings. This structure still exists in today's Palestinian
Authority; Hamas won't change it, and neither will Fatah. I don't see anyone
who can change it."

As to Prime Minster Ehud Olmert's plan to unilaterally evacuate settlements
in the West Bank Eitan said, "Israel must remain in the security zones,
meaning all those zones we do not plan on annexing."

(05.19.06, 18:03)