North Korea’s Shockwaves Crash On Israeli Beaches

North Korea’s Shockwaves Crash On Israeli Beaches

TEL AVIV, Israel -- You don't have to understand Hebrew to read the worried faces of Israelis glancing at this week's newspapers. The picture under yesterday's bold headlines shows the familiar round face of North Korea's Kim Jong Il. Looking at him from a Tel Aviv sidewalk near the beach, Israeli readers show a familiar expression: one of profound worry. "Now Iran will feel it can do whatever it wants," said Nili Orvin, a local businesswoman.

North Korea, on Asia's Pacific rim, lies thousands of miles from the Mediterranean Sea that laps gently upon Tel Aviv's shore. Still, Israelis know that the apparent detonation of a nuclear device on the other side of Asia can affect the future, even the survival, of their country.

Like Iran, Israelis are watching closely to see what the international community will do after the calamitous failure of diplomatic efforts to stop Pyongyang's nuclear pursuits. That's because the response to North Korea will serve as a guide of what will happen to Iran if it follows the same course.

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