LEAD: Israeli minister calls on West to "paralyze" Iran's economy

Dec 1, 2011, 14:00 GMT

Tel Aviv - Israel called Thursday on the West to agree on crippling sanctions against Iran and force it to choose between its nuclear programme or survival.

'It is possible to paralyze the Iranian economy,' Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon said, mentioning bans against Iran's Central Bank, the import of distillates and the export of oil.

'If the regime finds itself in an economic dead end, it will, really, face a dilemma of continuing its nuclear programme or survival,' he told Israel Radio.

He spoke as European Union foreign ministers were meeting in Brussels to discuss Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak earlier said Israel was not looking for a war with Iran, but would act if left with no choice and 'pushed into a corner.'

'Wars aren't picnics and we are not looking for a war,' he told the radio.

An attack against Iran's nuclear facilities would be a measure of last resort, he said, but added:

'Israel is very far from being paralyzed by fears or threats and it must act with a cool temper, quietly, and it can be that from time to time we will be put to the test.'

Responding to fears that Israel would not notify the US ahead of an attack on Iran, he said Israel listened to and highly appreciated Washington, but was a sovereign country, whose government and security forces were the only ones responsible for the Jewish state's 'security, future and existence.'

A survey by the Brooking Institute's Saban Center for Middle East Policy in Washington meanwhile indicated that the vast majority of Jewish Israelis (some 90 per cent) believe Tehran is developing nuclear weapons.

It also found Jewish Israelis remain divided on whether Israel should strike Iran.

Some 43 per cent of respondents said they support an Israeli military strike on Iran's nuclear sites while 41 per cent opposed it.

Some 65 per cent said they preferred a nuclear-free Middle East where neither Israel nor Iran would have nuclear weapons, over a situation in which both would have them.

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