Israel: Iran Sending Warships Through Canal

By RICHARD BOUDREAUX

JERUSALEM—Iran is sending two warships through the Suez Canal en route to Syria, Israel’s foreign minister said Wednesday, calling the act a “provocation” that Israel cannot ignore.

The Iranian plan described by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman would take the warships past Israel’s coast. While it would pose no significant military threat to Israel, he said that such a close encounter between forces of the two countries had not occurred in many years.

“Tonight, two Iranian warships are meant to pass through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean Sea and reach Syria,” Mr. Lieberman told a group of Jewish leaders in closed-door remarks that a government spokesman later confirmed. The minister said the plan “proves that the self confidence and cheek of the Iranians is growing from day-to-day” following the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt.

“To my regret, the international community is not showing readiness to deal with the recurring Iranian provocations,” he added. “The international community must understand that Israel cannot forever ignore these provocations.”

Syria is one of Israel’s neighboring adversaries and an ally of Iran, whose nuclear program is viewed by Israel as a threat to its existence.  MORE HERE