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CNN Live At Daybreak

Interview with Shimon Peres

Aired August 16, 2002 - 05:34   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: For Israel, the terror war is more than just battling suicide bombers. Many Israelis are concerned a U.S. attack on Iraq could drag them into another regional conflict.
Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres sat down with CNN's senior international correspondent Walt Rodgers to talk about the Iraqi threat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How close is Saddam Hussein to acquiring a nuclear option?

SHIMON PERES, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: Nobody knows exactly, but I would say it's a matter of years.

RODGERS: Two years, four years?

PERES: I wouldn't like to guess. Maybe even a little bit more. But it might also be a matter of a surprise.

RODGERS: The newspapers in Israel are full of stories about an impending war between the United States and Saddam Hussein. Can Israel sit this war out this time?

PERES: In principle, no. If there will be war, we should be a good soldier.

RODGERS: If attacked, what would Israel's response be?

PERES: Depends what sort of an attack. It depends upon the nature of it.

RODGERS: Conventional?

PERES: Conventional, we shall try to silent him down conventionally.

RODGERS: If he were to launch the doomsday weapon, whatever it is that he has, a chemical, biological weapon, what would Israel's response then be?

PERES: I wouldn't commit myself. I don't think that I can give you a responsible answer. Israel will be very, very careful and reluctant to go out of the conventional domain of weaponry.

(END VIDEOTAPE) COOPER: In a sign of war preparedness, the Israeli government says it has begun vaccinating against smallpox.

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