イスラエル政権 イラン核問題で米と連携を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 23, 2013)
Israel must closely cooperate with U.S. over Iranian N-issue
イスラエル政権　イラン核問題で米と連携を（3月22日付・読売社説）

At their latest summit meeting, top U.S. and Israeli leaders stressed cooperation--demonstrating a recovery in bilateral relations, which have recently been stressed by differences over issues such as Iran's nuclear development and the Palestinian peace process.
　米国とイスラエルが首脳会談で協調態勢をアピールした。イラン核問題や対パレスチナ和平を巡ってぎくしゃくしていた関係の修復を、印象づけたと言える。

It is important that the two countries utilize their renewed relations to stabilize the Middle East.
　これを中東地域の安定につなげていくことが重要だ。

After Israel's general election in January, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finally launched a coalition administration. U.S. President Barack Obama was the first foreign leader to be welcomed by the administration.
　１月の総選挙を受け、ようやく連立政権発足にこぎつけたネタニヤフ首相は、オバマ米大統領を最初の外国首脳として迎えた。

Regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, a major focus of the summit talks, Netanyahu acknowledged during a joint press conference with Obama that it would take one year for Iran to produce a nuclear weapon, even if it decided to go nuclear. Meanwhile, Obama emphasized, "We prefer to resolve this diplomatically, and there's still time to do so."
　焦点のイラン核問題では、首脳会談後の共同記者会見で、首相は、イランが核兵器製造を決断しても完成まで約１年かかるという認識を示し、大統領も「外交的解決の時間はまだある」と強調した。

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Diplomatic solution first

We can conclude that both countries have agreed to fully engage diplomatically to prevent Iran from possessing nuclear weapons.
　両国は、イランの核保有阻止を目指し、外交的手段を尽くすことで一致したと言える。

Last September, Netanyahu warned global leaders that it was within the realm of possibility that Iran had enough highly enriched uranium to produce its first nuclear weapon by as early as this spring. He has also indicated that Israel may unilaterally attack Iran if the international community cannot stop the nation from possessing a nuclear weapon.
　首相は昨年９月、イランが今年春にも、核兵器を作るのに十分な量の高濃縮ウランを保有する恐れがあると警告した。国際社会が阻止できねば、単独でのイラン攻撃も辞さない構えを見せていた。

But as Netanyahu has reached a compromise with Obama at the latest summit talks, a situation in which Israel takes military action against Iran is unlikely for the time being.
　今回、米国に歩み寄ったことで、イスラエルが軍事行動に出る事態は当面、遠のいた。

Should Israel attack Iran, the effects of the war would undoubtedly spill over into other areas. For instance, crude oil prices would skyrocket, adversely affecting the global economy. It is for this and other reasons that Israel must refrain from using force.
　イスラエルがイランを攻撃すれば、戦火は拡大し、原油価格の高騰で世界経済も揺らぎかねない。武力行使は自制すべきだ。

Obama pledged that the United States would support Israel in matters of security. In a show of his country's intent to keep its promise, Obama inspected Israel's "Iron Dome," a mobile all-weather air defense system that the United States helped to develop.
　大統領は、米国が安全保障面でイスラエルを支えると確約した。米国が支援した対空防衛システム「アイアン・ドーム」を視察したのも、示威効果が狙いだろう。

The security situation around Israel has been increasing in severity. Its neighbor Syria has descended into civil war, and in Egypt, where Islamists have taken the reins of government, the economy and politics have been thrown into chaos. The circumstances surrounding the region are increasingly unclear. In such an environment, Israel needed to restore a cooperative relationship with the United States.
　イスラエルの安保環境は厳しさを増している。隣国シリア内戦の泥沼化や、イスラム主義勢力が権力を握ったエジプトの政治・経済の混迷など、地域情勢は不透明感を強めている。イスラエルには、対米関係修復が必要だった。

During the joint press conference, Netanyahu also confirmed Israel remains fully committed to the "two states for two peoples" solution to the Palestinian issue, an initiative promoting the coexistence of two states.
　首相は、共同記者会見でイスラエルとパレスチナの「２国家共存」構想への支持も確認した。

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Weak administrative foundation

However, the growing number of Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and a split in the Palestinian leadership have made reopening peace negotiations difficult. As a result, the process for establishing a Palestinian state is still nowhere in sight.
　しかし、イスラエルの占領地ヨルダン川西岸での入植拡大や、パレスチナ指導部の分裂によって、パレスチナとの和平交渉が再開するめどは立たず、パレスチナ国家樹立への道筋は見えない。

Netanyahu's administrative foundation is now weaker than it was before the election. His attempts to garner support with a hard-line stance against Iran have ended in failure.
　ネタニヤフ首相の政権基盤は、総選挙前より弱まった。対イラン強硬姿勢で支持を広げようという試みは失敗に終わった。

After the election, the prime minister tried to establish a broad coalition administration. However, a religious party that once had been a former coalition partner decided to become part of the opposition, and Netanyahu's Likud party only succeeded in winning over middle-of-the-road and rightist parties. The stability of the new administration remains questionable.
　選挙後、首相は幅広い連立を試みたが、従来の連立相手だった宗教政党は離反し、中道勢力と強硬右派を取り込むにとどまり、政権の安定度には不安が残る。

Close cooperation with the United States is indispensable to maintain the Netanyahu government, and preserving its cooperation with the United States over the Iranian nuclear issue is an important pillar of that policy.
　米国との緊密な協力は、政権維持に不可欠だ。イラン核問題での連携維持は、重要な柱である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 22, 2013)
（2013年3月22日01時11分  読売新聞）