Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office is distancing itself from a Cabinet minister's comments that Israel will be forced to attack Iran. Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev said the prime minister stated Israel's policy clearly last week during a trip to Washington.
At a briefing with reporters, Olmert called for tighter international sanctions while warning that a more "effective" solution led by the U.S. was drawing closer.
Mofaz's remarks were published in a local paper Friday. They helped drive up oil prices worldwide and drew a chorus of domestic criticism charging him with speaking irresponsibly. One senior Israeli security official said Sunday that Mofaz's remarks "did not reflect policy" and "risked making it even harder for Israel to persuade more countries to step up their sanctions against Iran."
