WASHINGTON (JTA) — Ehud Barak says Iran is not an "existential threat" to Israel.
In an interview with the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronoth, the Israeli defense minister was quoted as saying that "Iran does not constitute an existential threat against Israel" and that "I am not among those who believe Iran is an existential issue for Israel." He was responding to a question about Iran’s nuclear program.
"Israel is strong, I don’t see anyone who could pose an existential threat," said Barak, who added that he did view Iran as a challenge to the whole world.
Israeli leaders have previously portrayed Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons as a threat to Israel’s future.
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