Obama: A nuclear Iran would be a game-changing situation

The Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama asserted that he would bring “big sticks and big carrots” to make Iran stand down on its nuclear program, but take no option off the table.
Answering reporters’ questions in the missile-battered southern town of Sderot,
July 23, Obama stressed that preventing Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon must be of paramount concern for any US administration. It would lead to the disintegration of the non-proliferation regime, other Middle East nations would also obtain nuclear weapons and some would reach terrorists. “This is the single most important threat to Israel and the US.”
In answer to another question, the US senator denied he had changed his position on Jerusalem.
“Jerusalem is Israel’s capital,” he said, “and it should not be sliced in half in a two-state solution. This is a matter to be settled by the parties in final-status talks not by America.”
In peace talks, “I would not pressure Israel for concessions that would put its security at risk, neither would McCain.” As president I would act as facilitator for the process, not dictate to either side.” He added: “peace must be centered on Israel’s security, not at its expenses.”
Accompanied by the Israeli defense, foreign and internal security ministers on his trip to Sderot, the presidential hopeful said “It is intolerable for Israeli civilians to have to live under missile fire in their homes and schools.”
Earlier, he met Palestinian leaders Mahmoud Abbas and Salam Fayyad in Ramallah, after laying a wreath at the Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem and talking to Israeli officials and opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu.
The visiting US senator is staying at the King David Hotel, Jerusalem, close to Wednesday’s Palestinian bulldozer attack, which he condemned on arrival from

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