Mofaz : "I was born in Iran and I came to Israel at the age of 9

The Deputy PM said Iran was well on its way to having a nuclear weapon, and that "as soon as 2010 (Iran) will have the option to reach (uranium production) at military levels."

"I was born in Iran and I came to Israel at the age of 9. The Iranians are a very kind people, but they live under an extremist regime...This does not come from the Iranian people, but from the Iranian leadership."

Mofaz also told listeners about Israel Radio's Farsi-language show which is broadcast in Iran. Mofaz offered an anecdote from one of the times he was on the program and spoke to Iranian callers.

"I had an opportunity to speak with an Iranian taxi driver and one of the questions he asked me was 'why dont you [Israel] come rescue us from this regime?' So now you understand the difference between the Iranian people and the regime."

He added that the extremism of Iran's regime poses a threat not only to Israel, but also to "the United States, Europe, and the world as a whole." He accused the regime of giving assistance to terrorist groups including Hamas, helping them gain the means to attack Israeli targets.

"My opinion and my goal will be to continue to speak to the Syrians without preconditions," Mofaz said in a speech Friday.

"The way is - peace for peace."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1007710.html