As concern over Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons escalates, The Jewish Federations of North America and Jewish Council for Public Affairs convened a teleconference this past week with former Israeli Defense and Foreign Minister Moshe Arens.

These two agencies are supported with funds raised by The Birmingham Jewish Federation and continue to play a leadership role on behalf of the American Jewish community regarding difficult issues facing Jews and Israel.

Arens, a veteran Israeli leader who has been deeply involved in dealing with strategic challenges to Israel's security, spoke to nearly 170 participants on the range of options available to Israel and its allies in preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.

AMERICA'S 'FOREMOST PROBLEM'

"The important thing that Federations can do is to make their government in the United States aware that an Iran with nuclear weapons is a world problem not just an Israeli problem," Arens said. "A nuclear Iran is the foremost problem facing the United States and it would be a delusion to look at this problem as simply an Israeli problem."

The well-known and veteran Israeli leader noted that the lack of action thus far has led to an increase in urgency. "A lot of time has been lost needlessly; we never should have gotten to this point and we may be beyond the point of no return. Iran with nuclear capability means a different world, not just a different Middle East."

The call also touched upon the complex nature of this matter. Arens highlighted four areas: That the Iranians are determined to attain such power; their ability to do so represents a great danger to the world; stopping Iran through economic sanctions is the preferred course of action over a military strike; and that we are very late in the game and running out of time to respond.

"From the world's point of view, if military action is to be taken, it is preferable to be taken by the US and not Israel. We must realize how dangerous it would be if Iran had nuclear capabilities and are hoping and praying that sanctions will stop this crazy venture," he said.

FAILURE TO MONITOR

Arens, who served as Israel's defense minister during the 1991 Gulf War, as well as in three different governments, referred to former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed ElBaradei's failure to accurately monitor Iran. The intelligence estimate had wrongly indicated that Iran stopped pursuing a nuclear program in 2003.

Current IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano has since sounded the alarm about Iran's drive toward nuclear weapons. "Now the world has to decide what to do about that," Arens said.

Finally, the Israeli leader called on the Jewish community to band together to bring the Iranian nuclear issue to the attention of our leaders. "The Jewish community in the United States can do a very important job in making people aware of what the dimensions of this problem are for the United States and not only for Israel," he said.

The above summary of the Arens call is being shared with Update readers as part of The Birmingham Jewish Federation's ongoing Iran Action Initiative which is designed to provide information and action strategies regarding Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Over a year ago, The BJF drew up a plan that will guide our actions and strategies in the event Israel and/or the US launches a preemptive military strike against Iran. This six point plan focuses on education, mobilization, media, fundraising, security, and monitoring potential anti-Israel, anti-Semitic backlash.

These are difficult times, as we all know, and The BJF remains committed to doing all we can, everyday in so many ways, to advance and guarantee the interests of the United States, Israel and the Jewish people.

Above information pertaining to the Moshe Arens call is from The Jewish Federations of North America.