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Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gives a speech in Tel Aviv, Dec. 11, 2006. Olmert implied that Israel has nuclear weapons, a departure from Israel's longtime nuclear policy of ambiguity, although other Israeli officials immediately denied it. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

 

    BERLIN, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert implied that Israel has nuclear weapons, a departure from Israel's longtime nuclear policy of ambiguity, although other Israeli officials immediately denied it.

    During an interview to a German television, Olmert, who was kicking off a three-day visit to Germany and Italy, hinted that Israel has nuclear arms.

    "Iran, openly, explicitly and publicly threatens to wipe Israel off the map. Can you say that this is the same level, when they are aspiring to have nuclear weapons, as America, France, Israel, Russia?" Olmert said.

    Olmert's remarks came in response to questions that in case Israel possesses nuclear arms, whether its argument against Iran's nuclear program would be weakened.

    This was the first time Israel said it has nuclear arms, a break from its traditional policy of opacity, namely, neither confirming nor denying it has nuclear weapons.

    Foreign experts suspected Israel has some 50-200 warheads.

    Immediately after the interview, Israeli officials dismissed the premier's remark as mis-interpreted saying its was taken out of context.

    Olmert's spokesman Miri Eisin said he did not mean to say Israel had or aspired to pursue nuclear weapons.

    Olmert's visit was aimed at enlisting Europe's support for its opposition to a nuke-armed Iran.

Gulf Arab leaders attend the opening ceremony of the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Riyadh, Dec. 9, 2006. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

Gulf nations eye nuclear energy

    RIYADH, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Six Gulf Arab nations wrapped up their two-day summit on Sunday, announcing their intention to acquire peaceful nuclear technology, while the Saudi King had warned on Saturday that the region is on the brink of exploding.

    The 27th summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a regional alliance grouping Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, has been held on Saturday and Sunday in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Full Story

Olmert criticizes German FM visit to Syria

    BERLIN, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert criticized Monday German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier's last week visit to Syria, saying it was a "mistake".

    "Is that the right basis for a visit by the German Foreign Minister? " Olmert told German N24 news channel, accusing Syria of a backer of terrorists in Iraq. Full Story

Olmert disagrees linkage between Iraqi issue and its conflicts with neighbors

    JERUSALEM, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Thursday responded to a U.S. report on the Iraqi issue, rejecting its linkage between the Iraqi violence and Israel's conflict with neighbors.

    It is an attempt to create linkage between the Iraqi issue and the Mideast issue and "we have a different view," Olmert was quoted by local daily Ha'aretz as saying. Full Story