A nuclear Iran makes Israelis nervous

The poll, conducted on behalf of the Center for Iranian Studies at Tel Aviv University, found that some 85 percent of respondents said they feared Iran would obtain an atomic bomb, 57 percent believed the new US initiative to engage in dialogue with Tehran would fail and 41 percent said Israel should strike Iran?s nuclear installations without waiting to see whether or how the talks develop. The daily Haaretz quoted the head of the Center, David Menashri, as saying that the findings are worrying because they reflect an exaggerated and unnecessary fear. ?Iran?s leadership is extremist but calculated and it understands an unconventional attack on Israel is an act of madness that will destroy Iran. Sadly, the survey shows the Iranian threat works well even without a bomb and thousands of Israelis (already) live in fear and contemplate leaving the country.? Women are more fearful than men that Iran will obtain nuclear weapons: 83 percent of women respondents said they fear such a scenario in contrast to 78 percent of men; 39 percent of women said they would consider leaving Israel in such an event as opposed to 22 percent of men. Age was also a factor for respondents: 89 percent of those aged 42 and above said they were fearful of a nuclear Iran, in comparison to 61 percent of those aged 18 to 41; Kazinform cites the Arab News. See www.arabnews.com for full version