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WASHINGTON-Israel voiced displeasure on Thursday at recent U.S. engagement with Iran and urged the Bush administration to stand firm on demanding Tehran abandon nuclear projects with bomb-making potential, an Israeli official said.In a shift of policy, U.S. diplomat William Burns joined envoys from other world powers for a July 19 meeting with an Iranian delegate at which his country was given two weeks to answer calls to curb uranium enrichment or face more sanctions. The turnaround raised eyebrows in Israel, which has long looked to its U.S. ally to lead efforts to isolate Iran.Since the multi-party talks in Geneva, Iran has said it would press ahead with its nuclear plans. Israel has increased the stakes in the diplomatic standoff by hinting it could resort to military strikes against its arch-foe's nuclear sites.One of the more vocal Israeli hawks, Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz, was hosted by Burns on Thursday for routine bilateral consultations known as the "strategic dialogue."Mofaz's spokeswoman, Talia Somech, said he used the forum, as well as separate meetings with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, to raise Israel's objections to the direct U.S.-Iranian talks."It wasn't a matter of leveling outrage, but of voicing Israel's strong concerns," she said."He (Mofaz) urged the Americans to set firm conditions, such as a refusal to allow the Iranians to enrich uranium on their turf, and to be clear that the deadline must be preserved. The Iranians are simply looking for cracks to exploit." To read more go to:
As in the days of Noah....
