[Peace-discuss] War candidate threatens Iran

[C. G. Estabrook]

	Obama firm on Iran nuclear plans

US presidential hopeful Barack Obama has said the world must prevent Iran from 
obtaining a nuclear weapon.

During a two-day visit to Israel and Palestinian territories, Mr Obama warned 
that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a grave threat to world security.

He held talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

The Illinois senator pledged his "unshakeable commitment" to Israeli security 
and to peace negotiations in the Middle East.

Hosting the Democratic candidate-in-waiting for dinner, Israeli Prime Minister 
Ehud Olmert said Mr Obama was following a tradition of the "great friends of 
Israel".

"I know how friendly you are, and I know how much you care for us," he said.

'No retreat'

Mr Obama earlier said the global community should offer "big sticks and big 
carrots" to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear programme.

"A nuclear Iran would pose a grave threat and the world must prevent Iran from 
obtaining a nuclear weapon," he said.

If elected, Mr Obama said he would take "no options off the table" in dealing 
with the Islamic republic.

Iran insists its nuclear aims are peaceful. On Wednesday President Mahmoud 
Ahmadinejad said Tehran would not "retreat one iota" in its nuclear activities.

Mr Obama was speaking in the Israeli town of Sderot - the target of frequent 
Palestinian rocket attacks from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Mr Obama reiterated his view that Jerusalem should be Israel's capital, but 
insisted the city's final status must be decided through peace talks.

He angered the Palestinian leadership last month by saying the city - which 
Palestinians want as the capital of a future state - should be Israel's 
"undivided" capital.

Palestinian appreciation

Also on Wednesday, Mr Obama held talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in 
the West Bank town of Ramallah, telling him that he would quickly engage in the 
Middle East peace process were he elected president.

"Obama confirmed to President Abbas that he will be a constructive partner in 
the peace process," Palestinian spokesman Saeb Erekat told reporters.

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Barack Obama lays holocaust wreath

Mr Obama told Israeli President Shimon Peres he wanted to "reaffirm the special 
relationship between Israel and the United States, [and] my abiding commitment 
to its security".

He said it was "my hope that I can serve as an effective partner, whether as 
a... senator or as a president, in bringing about a more lasting peace in the 
region."

Mr Obama also met Defence Minister Ehud Barak, opposition leader Benjamin 
Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

At the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial museum, the Illinois senator wore a Jewish 
skullcap as he laid a wreath.

"Let our children come here and know this history so that they can add their 
voices to proclaim 'never again'," he wrote in the museum's visitors' book.

False claims

Mr Obama is in the region to reassure American voters, especially Jewish 
Democrats, of his foreign policy credentials ahead of November's presidential 
election, says the BBC's Middle East correspondent Paul Wood.

Barack Obama (R) and Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak in Jerusalem on 23 July 
2008
Mr Obama said the ties between the US and Israel were unbreakable

Our correspondent also says he faces a US electorate which includes 10% who 
think he is a Muslim, according to a recent opinion poll.

Some also believe he was educated in a madrassa (Islamic religious school) and 
refused to place his hand on the Bible when sworn into the Senate - all false 
claims, adds our correspondent.

Mr Obama arrived in Israel on Tuesday night from neighbouring Jordan, where he 
met King Abdullah.

He earlier joined a US congressional delegation on a visit to Iraq, where he met 
Sunni tribal leaders in Anbar province and Prime Minister Nouri Maliki in Baghdad.

He repeated his goal of withdrawing US combat troops from Iraq within 16 months 
should he become president.

He is due to leave for Germany early on Thursday.

Back in the US, Mr McCain said Mr Obama had been wrong to press for withdrawal 
timetables.

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