Lieberman comes out against Iran's 'charm offensive'
Chairman of Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee says Iran engaged in pattern of deceit as Netanyahu heads to New York, alludes to 1981 attack of Iraq reactor as another case where Israel stood alone
In a post on his Facebook page, the former foreign minister wrote: "Now, when the world's attention is focused on the new Iranian president's attempts to appear moderate and conciliatory, it is worth noting that the Iranians have long employed a pattern of deceit: various promise tactics, stalling and feeding the international community with false information time and time again, all the while pursuing their goal of obtaining a nuclear weapon, meant to threaten world peace."
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Addressing Israel's attack on Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981, he said: "We should also bear in mind that in the case of the Iraqi reactor, Israel was the only one who made a warning and in retrospect we were right, as in other cases."
"Israel will not take part in this fraud. That is why I am giving my support to the prime minister as he embarks on an important task and I am confident that even at a time when harsh words are unpopular, the prime minister will stand firm for Israel's interests which are vital both to its own security and to the entire world's stability."
Shortly before boarding a flight to New York on Saturday, Netanyahu said: "I am heading to New York and Washington to meet with President Barack Obama and to speak at the UN's General Assembly. I will be representing Israel's citizens, our national interests, our rights as a people, our determination to defend ourselves and our hope for peace.
"I will speak the truth in the face of sweet talk, and a smile offensive. Facts must be said, the truth must be stated. Stating the truth today is vital to the world's security and obviously to our state's security."
Meanwhile, Britain's Sunday Times reported that Netanyahu will claim in his UN speech that the Iranians have 219kg of enriched uranium, enough to produce a nuclear weapon.
It was further stated that Netanyahu will present detailed reports that the development of a nuclear detonator is under way at the Parchin military base, 19 miles southeast of Tehran, where UN inspectors are banned and that the Shahab-3 ballistic missile is being tested continuously, while plutonium production at the Arak heavy water plant is progressing at full speed.
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