Israeli minister rejects foreign warnings on Iran

JERUSALEM - The Associated Press

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman gestures during a press conference after talks with his Polish counterpart Radek Sikorski, unseen, in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, Jan. 16, 2012. AP Photo

Israel's foreign minister says the Jewish state will not bow to foreign pressure in deciding whether to attack Iran.

In an interview Wednesday with Israeli Channel 2 TV News, Avigdor Lieberman rebuffed suggestions that American and Russian warnings against striking Iran would affect Israeli decision making, saying the decision "is not their business." He said "the security of the citizens of Israel, the future of the state of Israel, this is the Israeli government's responsibility." Israel fears Iran is developing a nuclear bomb, which Tehran denies.

Israel has sent a series of hints that it may attack Iran's nuclear program.
The U.S. and others believe tough economic sanctions must be given time to work. This week, the U.S. military chief said an Israeli attack would be "not prudent."