Peres: Iran in ‘Open War’ With Israel

Israeli President Ducks Question of Assassinations

by Jason Ditz, July 23, 2012

Speaking today in an interview with CNN, Israeli President Shimon Peres claimed that Iran is in a state of “open war” against his country, citing last week’s Bulgarian bombing, which officials have tried to blame Iran for.

Peres, as with other Israeli officials, declined to provide any evidence for the allegation, but did claim that Israel had “enough” evidence of its own to feel comfortable blaming Iran for the attack.

Beyond that, the interviewer asked if Peres thought the bombing was “retaliation” for Israel’s ongoing assassinations of Israeli scientists. Peres ducked the question, insisting that Israel had never officially claimed credit for the assassinations. It should be noted that unlike Iran, which has denied the Bulgarian bombing, Israeli officials have refused to do so about the assassinations, with Peres again hinting at culpability, claiming a “right” of self-defense.

Peres went on to say that even if Israel had assassinated the Iranian scientists it was part of a policy of “prevention” and was not terror because, in his estimation, Israel doesn’t engage in terror.

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