Israel Air Force Chief Says Iran Seeking Nonconventional Weapons

BBC Monitoring Service, Monsters and Critics:

The commander of the Israel Air Force has said that Iran is making "enormous efforts to acquire nonconventional weapons" and also that it is making similar efforts "to achieve a capability to reach very long distances". In an interview with Israeli TV, conducted by Sheli Yehimovich, Maj-Gen Eliezer Shqedi said the Iranians "already have surface-to-surface missiles that, if launched from Iran, will reach Israel".

The following is an excerpt from the recorded interview broadcast by Israeli Channel 2 TV on 2 July READ MORE

[Passage omitted] [Yehimovich] In view of the results of the Iranian elections, which are causing some uneasiness, as well as the assessment that Iran will soon possess a nuclear bomb, does the option of an Israel Air Force [IAF] raid on Iranian nuclear reactors seem more plausible?

[Shqedi] There is one certain thing about Iran: They are making enormous efforts to acquire nonconventional weapons overtly, but mainly furtively. In addition, they are making major efforts to achieve a capability to reach very long distances both with surface-to-surface missiles and -

[Yehimovich, interrupting] Are we their target?

[Shqedi] They already have surface-to-surface missiles that, if launched from Iran, will reach Israel, and they are doing their best to procure surface-to-surface missiles that can reach even central Europe. Concurrently, they are also developing the capability of launching airborne cruising missiles to ranges of hundreds of kilometres. What I am saying is that the issue of Iran does not necessarily have to do with Israel; it is the whole world's business: of Europe and the United States. It is no coincidence that the Europeans are very intensively preoccupied with the matter and that the US president has made several very significant declarations on the Iranian issue.

[Yehimovich] For instance, that they will understand if Israel feels it has to take action of some sort.

[Shqedi] With your permission, I will not comment on any operational or intelligence issue that has to do with Iran.

[Yehimovich] And you are probably not supposed to address political issues either, because the decision on whether such an operation will be launched is up to the political echelons. But about capability: Is the IAF capable of hitting Iranian nuclear reactors? I am not asking if it is going to happen, or if there are contingency plans. I am asking whether the IAF has the capability to do it.

[Shqedi] I will not address any issue that has to do with Iran. Being the IAF, which may have to carry out missions in any sphere, including very long-distance ones, middle-range, and very close-range ones, it constantly develops capabilities to operate at any range.

[Yehimovich] The London-based Sunday Times reported earlier this year: A. that the cabinet had approved a raid on Iran under certain circumstances; and B. that there is an Iranian reactor replica in the Negev, where IDF [Israel Defence Forces] drills take place. What can you tell us about that?

[Shqedi] That I will address no operational question that has to do with -

[Yehimovich, interrupting] You could have said it's utter nonsense, that there's nothing of the kind. To what extent is the Iranian nuclear capability an existential threat to Israel?

[Shqedi] Nuclear capability in places where monitoring is done by problematic regimes is a problem for the whole world.

[Yehimovich] Well, the Korean capability doesn't really concern us, while Iran does.

[Shqedi] I think that a nuclear capability in a problematic regime - at least from the free, democratic world's viewpoint - is a problem with which the entire Western world has to deal.

[Yehimovich] We are done with Iran; I can tell you have a problem with it. Syria is developing and testing Scud missiles. What do you think of the Syrian tests? Are they targeting us?

[Shqedi] Syria has been consistently developing surface-to-surface missiles and has recently carried out quite a few tests as part of their continuous effort to develop various capabilities. They perceive the surface-to-surface missiles as a key capability in their arsenal and are developing different ranges and different warheads. The concept of surface-to-surface missiles that can be launched at any range is very characteristic of the northern front - Syria as well as Lebanon, which has shorter-range rockets and missiles. The Syrians are developing extremely long-range capabilities.

[Yehimovich] And what is IAF doing to offset it?

[Shqedi] It is developing both defensive and offensive capabilities that address the problem. The defensive capability involves the Arrow and Homa, a special radar and a special missile that can handle it. Incidentally, our capability to deal with surface-to-surface missiles is better than anywhere in the world. Our offensive capability includes special intelligence, planning and control capability, and accurate fire capability which, I think, can provide an adequate answer to this problem.

[Yehimovich] A senior Air Force officer told me that the quality and capabilities of the Egyptian Air Force are not inferior to those of the IAF. Is it true?

[Shqedi] The Egyptian Air Force is well equipped, but I would act on the premise that the State of Israel has a peace agreement both with Egypt and Jordan. Incidentally, agreements are very important to the State of Israel, and I think they are to Egypt and Jordan.

[Yehimovich] Is the Egyptian Air Force really as good as IAF or even better?

[Shqedi] I would not go that far. They are well equipped with advanced Western weapons: advanced F-16 planes, advanced helicopters, advanced surface-to-air missiles. One of the things that make IAF special is that, in addition to our excellent technologies - some of which are American and most are products of the Israeli industry, which facilitates our exceptional achievements - the quality of the IAF is based on our people, who are simply amazing. [passage omitted]

Source: Channel 2 TV, Jerusalem, in Hebrew 1615 gmt 2 Jul 05

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