Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the American weekly Newsweek yesterday that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has to be stopped, Israel's newspaper Yedioth Aharonot on its website.

The newspaper, citing Olmert, who told the American magazine ahead of his trip to Washington, said that "Ahmadinejad is a man who is ready to commit crimes against humanity."

"This is the first time in many years that the official leader of a major nation with more than 70 million citizens has talked publicly and officially of the liquidation of another nation that is a member of the United Nations," Olmert was quoted as saying.

The prime minister declared that Israel supports a compromise that would stop Iran from developing nuclear capabilities, but added that "I don't believe that Iran will accept such compromise unless they have a very good reason to fear the consequences of not reaching it. In other words: Iran must start to fear."

Regarding to plans to opt for a military solution, Olmert refused to disclose specifically, but said it is absolutely intolerable for Israel to accept the threat of a nuclear Iran.

Olmert also expressed his faith in U.S. President Bush's integrity and determination on the Iranian issue, as well as his understanding of the threat posed by a nuclear program in Iran.

Earlier, U.S. vetoed a UN Security Council initiative to censure Israel pursuant to an operation of the Israeli Defence Forces in northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, in which 18 Palestinians were killed. The initiative also called for a UN team to investigate the incident.

When asked if he supported a change of regime in Iran, Olmert replied that the possibility was only one of several options for action.

The people of Iran, he said, must understand that they will pay the price for failing to comply with international demands that Iran cease its nuclear activity, the paper reported.