Israel steps up campaign to deface Iran

Israel takes a new step in its anti-Tehran rantings with the launch of a smear campaign against Iran to spoil the country’s global image.

A top Israeli political source revealed plans by Tel Aviv to step up efforts that would result in the international denunciation of the Iranian government.

“We have to lay the foundation in the world, and particularly in Europe, in order to be able to take harsher steps against Iran, especially in the economic sector,” said the source.

The report by Haaretz added that about NIS 8 million — nearly USD 2 million — has already been appropriated to carry out the project which is to be overseen by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

The campaign has been launched amid a thaw in thirty years of hostile relations between Iran and the US after President Barack Obama sought to engage Tehran in talks over its nuclear program and other issues.

Israeli circles, however, doubt the effectiveness of dialogue with Iran, claiming it will not lead to fundamental change in Tehran’s nuclear stance.

• A d v e r t i s e m e n t

In preparations for an Israeli-sought diplomatic failure over the Iranian issue, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman have called for a broad “public relations” campaign to turn the world against Iran.

The measures included in the project are appealing to those who are not concerned about Iran’s nuclear program but can turn against the Islamic Republic over what Haaretz described as “human rights abuses and mistreatment of minorities, including the gay and lesbian community”.

The plan also includes “increased briefings for foreign journalists on the Iranian nuclear program and greater use of the Internet and sites such as YouTube.”

The Israeli campaign is also set to focus on alleged remarks by the Iranian president regarding the Holocaust.

After President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad questioned “the extent of the calamity” caused by the Holocaust the Israeli lobby hyped the issue, saying he has flatly denied the Holocaust.

Earlier in a September interview with CNN’s Larry King Live, the Iranian president made an attempt to make clear his views on the Holocaust.

When asked if, from his point of view, the Holocaust did not happen, President Ahmadinejad said, “No, what I am saying is let more research be done.”

“What we are saying is that an impartial group should be formed to conduct an independent study on the extent of the calamity,” he further explained.

Such combined efforts against Iran have been intensified after the government of new Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to power.

In line with such anti-Iran attempts, Israel’s hawkish Netanyahu raised the alarm in March about a major military conflict in the upcoming months.

According to Debka, which is believed to have close links to Israeli spy agency Mossad, “His main consideration is that Israel expects to be embroiled in a major military confrontation in the next few months with Iran, Hamas or Hezbollah — or all three at once.”