Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in remarks published Monday that he would support a pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuclear program, the first time an Israeli leader has openly called for military action against the Islamic republic. Netanyahu's comments, made in the heat of a campaign for leadership of the hardline Likud Party, drew criticism from rivals, who accused him of playing politics with the country's security. Israeli leaders have repeatedly identified Iran as the biggest threat to Israel and dismissed Tehran's claim that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. Iran's announcement Monday that it plans to build a second nuclear power plant is likely to heighten the Israeli concerns.