Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Address at the 2007 Herzliya Conference January 24, 2007

Distinguished Guests,

I cannot speak tonight without referring to the events of the past day, and

the Attorney General's decision to hold a hearing for the President in light

of the possibility that serious charges may be filed against him. In these

circumstances, I have no doubt that the President cannot continue to fulfill

his role and he should leave the President's Residence. This is a sad day

for the State of Israel.

Ladies and Gentlemen, exactly one year ago less one day, I had the privilege

to stand at this podium, at the final session of the Herzliya Conference as

Acting Prime Minister, in place of Ariel Sharon, who days earlier had fallen

into a coma from which he has yet to awaken. In that speech, I expressed my

profound prayer, and that of all those present, as well as the entire

nation, that Arik Sharon would return to us. I have carried this hope and

this prayer since then.

Today, I would like to focus on a subject which I believe is the most

important one, and which was one of the main points of discussion during

this Conference over the past few days. This subject is one with significant

repercussions for the State of Israel and the region in the next decade. I

will present you with a report of the state of the Iranian threat.

Today, there is not one among us who does not sense the dangers inherent in

this threat, not only to Israel, but also to the future of the region and to

the stability of the world order. Every Israeli government over the past

decade acted vigorously to improve our ability to track Iran's intentions,

increase international awareness of the threat, mobilize international

support to stop external assistance of the Iranian plans and prepare

appropriate options in the event that these efforts prove unsuccessful in

the end.

We achieved considerable accomplishments in each of these areas; however let

us not delude ourselves: the primary goal which must be realized still lies

ahead.

For many long years, we have followed Iran's efforts to acquire nuclear

weapons, in the guise of a civilian nuclear program. They are working

through secret channels in a number of sites spread out across Iran. In the

past few years, we have been witness to especially intense Iranian activity

on two tracks - the overt and the covert.

Iranian support of Palestinian terror - through financial support, provision

of weapons and knowledge, both directly and through Syria - Iranian

assistance of terror in Iraq, the exposure of the capabilities which reached

the Hizbullah from Iran during the fighting in Lebanon and the assistance

which they offered just recently to Hamas, have demonstrated to many the

seriousness of the Iranian threat. This activity has created an opposing

front, which includes, in varying intensities, all the permanent members of

the UN Security Council; Arab states such as Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States,

Egypt and Jordan; and other key countries in the West, such as Germany and

Japan. This front is acting to unite forces and prevent this threat from

becoming a reality.

Recently, I returned from an important visit to China, and thus ended a

round of diplomatic visits. I met with all the leaders of countries which

serve as permanent members in the Security Council, and other key countries.

The Iranian topic was at the top of our agenda and at the core of the

meetings I held, and which various ministers and other professional

officials regularly hold. In all the contacts I have had, there has been

clear agreement that Iran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons or

the material to produce them.

The Security Council's discussion of the Iranian situation and its

acceptance of Resolution 1737 are important steps, which brought together

all the members of the Security Council. The Resolution was achieved

following intense and complex diplomatic efforts. Many parties took part in

it, including several agencies in the State of Israel, both on a political

level and at a professional level. We know that our efforts contributed

greatly to the result.

It is clear to everyone that a diplomatic solution to the Iranian issue is

the preferred solution. We also prefer such an outcome. The direction which

the majority of the international community leans towards is a solution

which can bear fruit, as long as it is done with the necessary ingenuity and

determination, while meticulously adhering to the minimum requirements on

which there can be no compromise.

Assuming that all the steps which will now be taken (and those which are

already being taken) by the international community are sharper, more

significant, clearer and more vigorous, the need to adopt more demanding and

harsher solutions in the future will be reduced. Those who believe, as we

do, that a diplomatic solution is preferable, must now muster their strength

to exert pressure on Iran and thus stay the course until change is achieved.

To turn a blind eye now, while ignoring reality, dragging one's feet, and

attempting to reach dangerous compromises while avoiding taking clear steps,

those of us who wish to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power will,

down the road, not be left with any choice but to take much more severe

steps in the future.

I wish to clarify - Iran is very vulnerable and sensitive to international

pressure, despite its defiant, arrogant and provocative stance, and it is

already paying the ever increasing price of this behavior, a price which

will only increase if it continues in its policy. As serious as the Iranian

threat is, the threat of nuclear attack on Israel is by no means imminent.

At this stage, there is still time, while not unlimited, to stop Iran's

intention of becoming a nuclear power which threatens its adversaries, first

and foremost, Israel. We are not complacent, we cannot be complacent, and we

are responding to the Iranian threats with the necessary seriousness.

Israel is not spearheading the struggle against the Iranian threat. This

threat must be dealt with seriously and responsibly, first and foremost by

the major powers and by other key nations. We are at the forefront of the

fight to place this issue on the top of the agendas of world leaders and

international public opinion. It is our duty to point out the dangers and

help in finding solutions. The Jewish people, on whom the scars of the

Holocaust are deeply etched, cannot allow itself to again face a threat

against its very existence. In the past, the world remained silent and the

results are known. Our role is to prevent the world from repeating this

mistake.

This is a moral question of the highest degree. There is a moment during

which any rule among the routine diplomatic rules becomes irrelevant. When

the leader of a country announces, officially and publicly, his country's

intention to wipe off the map another country, and creates those tools which

will allow them to realize their stated threat, no nation has the right to

weigh its position on the matter. This is an obligation of the highest

order, to act with all force against this plot.

We have nothing against the Iranian people, we are not the enemy of the

Iranian people and we have no interest in conflict with Iran. In the past,

before the takeover by the radical factions of the country with its

exceptional tradition and impressive abilities, we had close and friendly

relations.

The Iran of today, whose leadership is motivated by religious fanaticism and

ideological extremism, has chosen a policy of confrontaion with us and

threatens to wipe Israel off the map of nations. It supports terror and

undermines stability in the region. The Iranian regime, in its aspiration to

regional hegemony, bears responsibility for the riots perpetrated by the

Hizbullah today to bring down the Lebanese government.

Threats, hostility and fighting are not our way. Our aspiration was, and

will always be, to live in peace with our neighbors, near and far. We will

never reject a hand, offered in all sincerity, towards genuine peace, by any

nation. For this we yearn.

At the same time, our desire for peace should not be interpreted as

weakness, but rather as a source of strength. Anyone who threatens us, who

threatens our existence, must know that we have the determination and

capability of defending ourselves, responding with force, discretion and

with all the means at our disposal as necessary. We will not place the lives

of our people, the life of our country, at risk. We have the right to full

freedom of action to act in defense of our vital interests. We will not

hesitate to use it. I do not suggest that anyone mistakes our restraint and

responsibility, or presume that it will harm our determination and

capability to act when necessary.

The Iranian issue preoccupies me and my thoughts constantly. I am

coordinating the handling of this matter and follow up on it on a daily

basis, of one mind with the ministers involved in the matter and in

coordination with the relevant agencies and ministries. Faced with the

Iranian threat there is not, never was and will never be any difference

between opposition and coalition, between right, center and left. We are all

united in this regard and the people stand behind us, united and ready to

face the dangers lurking at Israel's doorstep.

There is no human experience we have not undergone. There is no affliction,

threat, hatred, jealousy, envy, persecution, violence and bloodshed which

have not been seared into our flesh. With unparalleled strength, we built

our lives and established a glorious country. No force in the world can

destroy us - and there will never be. We refuse to be dragged into an

atmosphere of collective, self-induced fear. We will not allow the people to

sink into depression and insecurity. We have immense strength. We have

nothing to fear and we will not be afraid.

All of us understand the weight of responsibility and the importance of the

hour related to this sensitive subject. Together, through joint internal

effort, by joining forces with the world and by speaking in one, responsible

voice at home - not overly excited, but rather clear and determined - we will