Netanyahu Calls Iran Deal ‘Historic Mistake’: Joshua Mitnick
http://www.wsj.com/articles/netanyahu-calls-iran-deal-historic-mistake-1436866617
Desire for agreement “stronger than anything else,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says.
TEL AVIV—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that the agreement between Iran and six world powers on Tehran’s nuclear program is a “historic mistake.”
“Wide-ranging concessions were made in all of the areas which should have prevented Iran from getting the ability to arm itself with a nuclear weapon,’’ Mr. Netanyahu said. “The desire to sign an agreement was stronger than everything else.”
The comment reflects the Israeli leader’s long-standing public criticism of the U.S. and European negotiators in the talks with Iran.
Mr. Netanyahu and other Israeli officials complain that the agreement will leave Iran as a “threshold” nuclear power, with the ability to build a weapon within weeks. Mr. Netanyahu has also warned that lifting economic sanctions on Iran will give the government “hundreds of millions of dollars” to boost support to allies in the Middle East that are also Israel’s enemies.
Mr. Netanyahu’s decision to publicly attack administration over the Iran deal—most notably before a joint session of U.S. Congress last March—has frayed U.S.-Israeli ties. Though most Israeli politicians share his skepticism about the agreement, the Israeli premier has been criticized by opposition politicians for his confrontational approach toward the U.S.
Israel is expected to actively lobby U.S. legislators against the deal. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely pointed to such and effort in her reaction to the deal.
“The implications of this agreement for the foreseeable future are very grave,” she said. “The state of Israel will employ all diplomatic means to prevent the confirmation of the agreement.’’
Speaking to Israel Radio on Tuesday, Mr. Netanyahu’s former national security adviser, Yaakov Amidror, said the agreement doesn’t contain rigorous enough oversight mechanisms to prevent the Iranians from violating it.
“When the foundations of a house are shaky,” said Mr. Amidror. “I don’t care what’s in the windows or doors. That house won’t stand through one storm. This agreement won’t stand through one storm. On the day the Iranians decide to violate it, there is no real mechanism that can operate against them.”
Write to Joshua Mitnick at joshua.mitnick@wsj.com
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