Olmert To Discuss Iranian Nuke Program In Japan

Jerusalem – On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will leave for a week’s visit to Japan.

In talks with his counterpart, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, and senior administration officials in Tokyo, the prime minister will focus on two main issues: North Korean involvement in the Iranian and Syrian nuclear programs and increased economic cooperation. About a year ago, the U.S., China, Russia, South Korea and Japan formulated an agreement with North Korea for it to cancel its nuclear program in exchange for generous economic aid to the poverty-stricken communist dictatorship. But reports in the international media that, last September, Israel attacked a nuclear installation constructed by Syria with the aid of North Korea aroused great concern in Tokyo. The issue will most likely come up for profound discussion in his talks with Mr. Olmert, in addition to the extensive aid accorded by North Korea to Iran in the development of long range missiles.

This is an official visit, and so Mr. Olmert will be given a courtesy chat with Emperor Akihito. A major part of his visit will be devoted to meetings with the industrial and economic leaders. The Japanese asked that the meetings focus on four issues: computer communications and programs, medical equipment and medication, energy alternatives and aviation. Mr. Olmert will be accompanied by leaders of Israeli industry, who will present proposals to increase cooperation between the two countries. Israel’s exports to Japan come to USD 800 million annually, while imports come to more than double: NIS 1.8 billion.

Concern That Another Half Million People Will Be In Rocket Range

Ashdod, Kiryat Gat, Kiryat Malachi, Rahat and even Beer Sheva.

Israeli security officials recently voiced concerned that all these towns could soon be within the range of Hamas’ rockets.

These include sophisticated rockets capable of a much larger range than the Kassam rockets, which Hamas could develop.

Security officials are aware of the fact that Hamas is doing everything it can to imitate Hezbollah’s mode of operation in northern Israel. Hamas and other organizations in the Gaza Strip have already taken advantage of the toppling of the fence on Philadelphi Road last month in order to bring into the Gaza Strip much weaponry, which until then had been hidden in Sinai.

Israeli intelligence chief Yuval Diskin even voiced this concern when he spoke at the cabinet about advanced anti-aircraft missiles and modern anti-tank missiles being smuggled.

Now concern has arisen that Hamas would not suffice with this, but would want to increase the range of the rockets in an unprecedented manner, which would create a new threat against towns in southern Israel.

These rockets, should Hamas acquire them, could have a significantly larger range than the Kassam rockets that are produced in Gaza and the Grad rockets, a sort of Katyusha rocket that Hamas and Islamic Jihad has had now for several years, with a range of about 12 miles.

With these rockets, some of which are produced in Iran, Hamas wants to bring the 120,000 residents of Ashkelon into the circle of terror, in addition to the residents of Sderot and nearby communities in the western Negev.

Another dramatic development in the range of Hamas’ rockets could be much more serious. A rocket that has ranges much larger than those Hamas has today could easily not only reach Ashkelon, but also its northern neighbor, Ashdod.

In addition, it could be used to attack the city of Kiryat Gat, which is less than 20 miles away from the center of the Gaza Strip. By firing from the southern Gaza Strip at the northern Negev, long-range rockets could hit Ofakim, and in the worst case, even reach Beer Sheva.

Israel Mulls Hezbollah Attacks

The Middle East Newsline confirms that Israel’s military has been examining scenarios of Hezbollah strike options in wake of the assassination of its operational chief.

The military has been discussing Hezbollah retaliatory options against interests in Israel and abroad. The scenarios were based on the assumption that Hezbollah would seek to conduct a major, albeit deniable, attack.

“Israel is prepared and will not ignore the possibility that Hezbollah might act,” an Israeli Cabinet statement said on Feb. 17.

On Feb. 12, Mughniyeh was killed by a car bomb after meeting in Damascus with Syrian intelligence chief Assaf Chawkat. Palestinians as well as non-Arab nationals have been arrested by Syrian authorities.

The most likely scenarios, military sources said, would involve a major Hezbollah strike against Israeli or Jewish interests abroad. They said the attack would be similar to the bombings of the Israel embassy and Jewish community center in Buenos Aires in the early 1990s.

“It’s safe to assume Hezbollah will try to retaliate for the assassination of Imad Mughniyeh, possibly with Iranian and Syrian assistance,” Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said.

Other Hezbollah options included rocket strikes from Lebanon as well as an attack by an unmanned aerial vehicle. Hezbollah has fitted Iranian-origin UAVs with a payload of at least 30 pounds of explosives and sent them into Israel during the war in mid-2006.

“If such an attack could be deniable, there is a possibility that Hezbollah will carry it out and prepare for an Israeli response,” an Israeli military source said.

The sources said Hezbollah could be encouraged by the increasing reluctance of the Lebanese military and the United Nations peacekeeping forces to intervene in southern Lebanon. They said the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon could undergo a significant reduction in 2008 as several European Union states, particularly Spain, were considering withdrawal. The Spanish contingent has come under several attacks from unidentified insurgents in southern Lebanon over the last year.

David Bedein can be reached at Media@actcom.co.il. His Web site is www.IsraelBehindTheNews.com

©The Bulletin 2008