Israel will defend itself against Iran if necessary — even in the wake of the nuclear arms deal the United States has hammered out with Iran, according to Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
"The president has said Israel has to do what it has to do and Israel will take whatever steps it deems necessary to prevent the threat being realized that Iran wants to destroy Israel, as well as anybody else who opposes their views," Hoenlein told "The Steve Malzberg Show" on Newsmax TV.
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"The question of whether Israel can do it, yes, they can. Does this make it more complicated? I would have to say, yes, as well."
Hoenlein called the U.S.-Iran deal "a very complicated matter with very high stakes."
"We're talking about the security of the United States, our allies, the stability of the Middle East and frankly, of the world, because you're dealing with the largest sponsor of terrorism globally," he said.
"You're talking about the backer of Hamas, Hezbollah, you're talking about a country that underwrites terrorism in Latin America, in North America, Africa, Asia.
"We're talking about a country that is rapidly advancing towards a nuclear weapon, which would only make all of these activities much more severe and give them a nuclear cover for their support of terrorism, their violations of human rights, their aggressive activities."
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