The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Times News Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA/WNBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsports
    • Soccer
    • NCAA
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Other
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Military History
    • Life
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Themes
  • Communities
  • Marketplace
    • Autos
    • Jobs
    • Real Estate
    • Classifieds
    • Shopping
    • Dining Out
    • Education
    • TWT Store
  • Videos
    • Two Guys
    • Birnbaum on Washington
    • Liz Glover
    • Amanda Carpenter
    • Morning Briefing
    • Documentaries
    • Joe Giganti
    • Video Game Minute
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • NFL

    Same old problems plague Redskins

  • Politics

    Obama: It's Senate's turn on health care

  • Security

    Army chief wary of backlash against Muslim soldiers

  • Sports

    Offense erupts in Caps' victory

  • National

    KUHNHENN: 10% jobless rate is Obama's troubling world

  • World

    Joint forces probe NATO air strike

  • National

    Fla. shooting suspect 'mentally ill'

Home » Culture » Military History

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Olmert acknowledges secret meeting

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

Architect of '81 Iraq attack details technical plan for Iran

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen
  • Videos
Please stand by, images loading!
  • AGENCE FRANCE-PRESS/GETTY IMAGES
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, here in August 2006, did not record his meeting with Aviam Sela in his diary, an indication of his concern to keep it secret. Israeli media reports that Mr. Olmert and Mr. Sela discussed the details of a potential attack against Iranian nuclear facilities.

More Military History Stories

  • Hanks takes viewers to war
  • Airman returns 65 years later
  • Civil War nurse achieves rank of major
  • W.H. tapes show Kennedy conflicted on Vietnam

By Mel Frykberg, MIDDLE EAST TIMES

JERUSALEM | The Israeli government has been forced to acknowledge a top-secret meeting held Friday between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Aviam Sela, the chief architect of Israel's 1981 attack on Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor, after the media got wind of the details.

Although Mr. Olmert went to extraordinary lengths to withhold details of the meeting by not even recording it in his diary, the Israeli media reported that Mr. Olmert and Mr. Sela had discussed the details of a potential attack against Iranian nuclear facilities.

This followed initial denials from government sources who eventually acknowledged that the meeting had taken place but went out of their way to downplay the significance of the event, although they confirmed that Mr. Sela had detailed his vision for a military attack on Iran from a technical standpoint.

Mr. Sela's expertise includes fathering the technique of refueling warplanes from the air. He originally had been slated for a high-level appointment in the Israeli air force before he was implicated in the Jonathan Pollard spy scandal.

Pollard was a dual American-Israeli citizen and was imprisoned in the U.S. for espionage after he passed classified American intelligence information to Israel.

Prior to last week's military dummy-run over the Mediterranean, Israel appeared to be sending mixed signals regarding an impending attack on Iran.

Mr. Olmert vowed during Israel's Passover that Iran would not turn nuclear, and Israeli Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz has made headlines with comments of his own.

"If Iran continues with its program for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack," Mr. Mofaz said.

Other Israeli officials attempted to calm the situation. Mr. Mofaz was criticized by some Israeli politicians as seeking to enhance his own standing as questions mount about whether the embattled Mr. Olmert can hang on to power. Other Israeli officials told the U.S. that Mr. Mofaz's statement did not represent official policy.

However, the same officials also explained that Israel was preparing plans for a strike on Iran and would carry them out in the event that diplomacy fails.

[Get Copyright Permissions] Click here for reprint permissions!
Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC

12Next »

Post a comment

There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

Please login or register to post a comment

Ask a Question

You Report

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?

Top Stories

Most Read

  1. EXCLUSIVE: Rare virus poses new threat to troops
  2. Sniper's ex-wife speaks out on abuse
  3. Parents buying homes for kids at college
  4. PRUDEN: Corpse sits up, gets nice salute
  5. Inside the Beltway
More Top Stories »
  1. Armored troop carriers called unsafe for duty
  2. EDITORIAL: Too scared to recognize terrorism
  3. 13 killed at Texas army base; psychiatrist accused
  4. House OKs health reform bill
  5. Aborted fetus cells used in beauty creams

Most Shared

  1. Parents buying homes for kids at college
  2. EXCLUSIVE: Rare virus poses new threat to troops
  3. EDITORIAL: Too scared to recognize terrorism
  4. Sunshine vitamin stirs new debate
  5. Aborted fetus cells used in beauty creams
More Top Stories »
  1. Obama's unlearned lesson
  2. Looking to 2010, GOP focuses on fiscal restraint
  3. Israelis unsure of U.S. support
  4. EDITORIAL: The negative Obama factor
  5. EDITORIAL: Obama has a 'Pet Goat' moment

Most Commented

  1. House OKs health reform bill
  2. EDITORIAL: Too scared to recognize terrorism
  3. Muslims stunned by Fort Hood shooting
  4. Furious scramble for health reform support
  5. 'Gentle' Army psychiatrist displayed worrisome signs
More Top Stories »
  1. Obama praises those who ended Fort Hood violence
  2. EXCLUSIVE: Rare virus poses new threat to troops
  3. Making fun of faith
  4. Israelis unsure of U.S. support
  5. Army chief wary of backlash against Muslim soldiers

Listen to Washington Times Radio

  • America's Morning News

    with John McCaslin and Melanie Morgan

Question of the day

Do you think the health reform bill will pass?

Blogs & Columns

  • POTUS Notes

    New Dem talking point on Obama approval doesn't wash

  • The Back Story

    12 arrested at Pelosi's office

  • Belief Blog

    Washington goes Greek this week

  • Out of Context

    Foods that might kill libido

  • Technology

    Facebook wins round against phishing spammer

  • On the Fly

    United lifts some 'award' blocking

  • Redskins 360

    Samuels feeling better, hopeful

  • Tara's Two Cents

    On their way to summer vacation..

  • SNOBlog

    Beyond 'Woody'

Videos

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.