Responding to reports that Israel may consider attacking Iran before the U.S. elections, Brown said, “If Israel feels that they need to protect themselves, that’s certainly within their sovereignty to do.”
U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., addresses an audience during a meeting of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, in Randolph, Mass., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. The Massachusetts Republican said he's trying to keep taxes low to help businesses grow, while portraying Warren as a "jobs destroyer" who favors a heavier tax burden. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)More politics news
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Activists say Romney would be a “nightmare for the poor and middle class.”Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown said Wednesday that Israel “has the absolute right to defend itself,” amid reports that Israel may consider attacking Iran before the U.S. elections.
According to Bloomberg News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that Israel could consider bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities before November. The possibility of a strike against Iran has been debated by Israeli military and political leaders for months, but Bloomberg reported that there is now an attempt to prepare the Israeli public for potential retaliation by Iran or its allies. The Jerusalem Post reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday he does not believe Israel has decided whether to attack Iran.
Asked about the news reports at a campaign event in Roxbury, Brown responded, “If Israel feels that they need to protect themselves, then that’s certainly within their sovereignty to do.”
“I’m sure that Israel is thinking long and hard about the policies of Iran having a nuclear weapon and looking as to the rhetoric being put out by (Iran’s) leaders to wipe (Israel) off the face of the earth, and they take those threats very, very seriously,” Brown said.
Brown said the threat from Iran is real, and he has supported Senate efforts to put stronger sanctions on Iran and to give the administration tools to work with partners around the world to stop Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon.
“We don’t need a nuanced approach like Professor Warren wants,” Brown said, referring to his Democratic opponent Elizabeth Warren.
Warren previously told MassLive.com that she supports economic sanctions against Iran and “vigorous diplomacy.” “I believe the United States must take the necessary steps to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon -- but also that careless talk of rushing to war is unhelpful," she said.
On Wednesday, asked to respond to the latest news reports, Warren said that she trusts the president's leadership on the issue.
"I stand with President Obama, who is working hard to put effective sanctions in place to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power," Warren said. "He is working with others in the region and I think the president is doing a very good job."
Staff writer Robert Rizzuto contributed to this report.