Israel appeals the world over Iranian President doubts on holocaust

Israel is seeking to mobilize the world opinion against Iran following the statements of the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in which he expressed doubt that millions of Jews were killed at the hands of the Nazis.

He described Israel as "cancer" that should be transferred to Europe, implying that those who support Israel so much can give their own land to Israel instead of allowing Israel to take the Palestinian lands.

The Israeli defense minister Shaoul Mofaz called on the world not only to confine to condemn these statements, but also to double efforts in order to prevent Iran from owning nuclear weapons. In statements to the press, Mofaz described the Iranian government as "a racist and anti-semitic- regime."

Mofaz added that Israel is a threat for the region and the west." He added that diplomatic channels are the correct way to face the Iranian nuclear ambitions, noting simultaneously the need to prepare for 'other methods'." These words are usualy used to threaten that Israel can attack Iran.

The Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom considered the statements as "a warning bell that should be dealt with seriously." Shalom called on Russia and the European Union to join the USA with the aim to bring the Iran's nuclear file to the UN Security Council. Israel is said to be the only nuclear power in the region, and refuses to allow international inspections of its nuclear facilities, and refuses to join the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

The director general of the International Agency for Atomic Energy Muhammad ElBaradei strongly criticized Tehran, saying that the patience of the international community has started to expire over the Iranian nuclear program. ElBaradei's statement came immediately upon his arrival in Oslo to receive the Noble prize for 2005, and he stressed that the opportunity is still available to reach a diplomatic solution for the crisis. It is not clear on what basis ElBaradei can claim to represent and speak on behalf of the international community, and specifically which international community, citizens, parliamentarians, etc. he was elected to speak on behalf of, or which international citizenry he claims to know the feelings of. Also, it is not clear if he feels that winning the Nobel Prize endows him with such powers.