JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's prime minister told his cabinet Sunday to tone down criticism of a U.S. intelligence report concluding that Iran has stopped its nuclear weapons program, an attempt to keep the disagreement from getting out of hand.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's instructions came after one of his ministers warned that the U.S. report could trigger a war. At the same time, officials said an intelligence delegation is in the U.S. to press Israel's case that Iran is still working on a nuclear bomb.
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The developments underlined the dilemma Israel faces over how to handle serious differences with its main ally over a key security issue.
Without contradicting his own intelligence, President Bush has been sympathetic to the Israeli view that Iran is still dangerous.
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The U.S. and Israel will hold additional formal meetings on the matter in coming weeks, the Israeli officials said. Israel will use these forums to try to persuade the Americans that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, and to present top secret Israeli intelligence material, the officials said.
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http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-12-16-israel-us-iran_N.htm