Fearing Iran-North Korea Ties, Israel Urges Sanctions for Tehran

JERUSALEM — The shockwaves from North Korea's testing of a nuclear device reached Israel yesterday, and its government expressed concern that Iran would benefit from Pyongyang's technology and accelerate the alleged development of its own nuclear weapon.

Israeli officials called for more diplomatic pressure, including sanctions, on Tehran, as it was announced that Prime Minister Olmert would hold an emergency summit tomorrow on Iranian nuclear weapons.

"Now that North Korea has proven its nuclear capabilities, it risks collaborating with Iran and accelerating its nuclear program," Israel's ambassador to America, Danny Ayalon, said.

"In this context, sanctions [on Iran] become more and more critical."

President Ahmadinejad of Iran called last year for the Jewish state to be wiped off the map and, in what many people believe referred to a nuclear attack, said Israel would be annihilated by "one storm."