Israel is worried about a possible clash with Washington over the Iran nuclear deal – Middle East Monitor
Posted By admin on August 30, 2022
As the countdown begins for the signing of a nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, a number of disputes have surfaced between Israel and the US about the deal. There is also criticism within Israel of the government's political and military approach towards the agreement. The occupation state appears to be opposing the whole world, which has more or less united to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions through diplomatic means, while Israel foolishly sticks to the punishment approach.
In a step devoid of political wisdom, former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to prevent the signing of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal agreed by the administration of then US President Barack Obama. Netanyahu arrived in Washington on the eve of the signing ceremony and delivered a speech in the US Congress against the deal behind Obama's back. Obama did not hesitate to describe him as ungrateful. In the end, Netanyahu returned empty handed while the agreement was signed.
The strange thing is that current Prime Minister Yair Lapid is now following in Netanyahu's footsteps. His National Security Adviser, Eyal Kholta, has arrived in Washington for talks at the White House during which he will hear the details of the agreement before expressing Israel's opposition. It is true that he will be briefed on the details closely, but he will not get what he wants. US President Joe Biden is determined to give Israel a second chance, which it will be a mistake to miss. Mossad spy chief David Barnea has also criticised the agreement, which is being seen as direct criticism of the Biden administration.
Meanwhile, more Israelis are calling for a different policy on the Iran nuclear issue. Automatic opposition to any agreement, coupled with angry rhetoric and an attack on Iran, may earn Brownie points within certain sections of the Israeli electorate, but it brings Tehran closer to deciding to arm itself with nuclear weapons, because it will be the one to decide whether there will be a renewable agreement with the global powers regarding the nuclear file.
Many Israelis believe the new agreement to be less useful than what was on the table earlier. The fact is that Israel can't expect anything better. Iran has made great progress in the production of centrifuges, and is able to enrich uranium faster than before. Israeli policy has played an important part in reaching this bleak situation. It began with Netanyahu's direct attack on Obama, and he continued to push Trump to withdraw from the agreement which he did in 2018 even though Iran had fulfilled its part of the terms.
READ: Rushdie's stabbing is unlikely to delay the Iran nuclear agreement
Israelis are afraid of reproducing Netanyahu's opposition to the nuclear agreement to the point of starting a crisis with Biden, which could cost Israel a lot. The current agreement, even if Israel sees it as bad, is better than no agreement at all, because Israel's current policy is pushing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. Tel Aviv needs to think seriously about a change of policy.
A nuclear Iran is apparently a serious threat to Israel, because it will open the regional nuclear arms race even wider. This will require an examination of every step that Iran takes when looking at other conflict zones. Israelis recall that the late Mossad chief Meir Dagan said, "Forcefully preventing Iran's bomb cannot be achieved by Israel alone; it requires international preparation."
All of this confirms that Israel is facing a complex situation, which has prompted its military and security leaders to ask the politicians and government to coordinate their activities with other countries, notably the US, as well as with their regional partners. The idea must be to create checks and balances against Iranian interests in various places, and to stop believing blindly that the only solution is Israel's military power. Such a belief means, in short, bringing Iran closer to having nuclear weapons.
Israelis are now talking about the conflicting interests of the US and Israel in the nuclear agreement to be signed. This requires the latter to find a way to act without necessarily causing a clash between Lapid and Biden. Netanyahu clashed with Obama, causing relations to deteriorate dramatically.
Although not much is known about the details of the new nuclear agreement, it is clear that it is already much weaker than the original JCPOA signed by Obama, according to Israeli estimates. If implemented, the deal will limit Iran's ability to enrich uranium even more than the original agreement. Meanwhile, Tel Aviv is still making great efforts to persuade Washington not to sign the agreement, or at least to toughen some of its provisions.
READ: Iran nuclear deal limbo may serve interests of both US and Iran
Four main components have been identified to deal with the consequences of the imminent agreement: careful monitoring by the intelligence services, which will prevent Iran from developing an explosive nuclear device secretly; the means to respond and disrupt production if Iran resumes its nuclear weapons development programme; a joint identifier by Tel Aviv and Washington as when to consider Iran to have achieved a breakthrough towards nuclear weapons; and understandings on the action to be taken by Tel Aviv and Washington together, or separately, if Tehran actually gets a nuclear bomb.
It is clear that there are a number of conflicting interests between the occupying power and the United States. The latter has an interest in lifting sanctions on Iran so that it will be able to produce and export oil and gas with no limits, averaging 3.5 million barrels per day, in the face of the consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war, and to fill the fuel shortage that Russia has created for Europe in the coming winter. The US also wants to save Iran from falling into the arms of China and Russia and thus reduce the strategic and economic negotiating power of the anti-Western camp.
The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.
The rest is here:
- Military: rocket fired from Gaza lands on southern Israel - March 20th, 2023
- Astonishing: Atwood Responds to The Handmaids Tale Becoming Israeli Protest Symbol - Israel News - Haaretz - March 20th, 2023
- The Holy Land and Us review this taboo-busting look at Israel and Palestine isnt afraid of controversy - The Guardian - March 20th, 2023
- Ahead of ghetto uprising anniversary, Polish and Israeli flags again fly over Warsaw - The Times of Israel - March 20th, 2023
- Yuval Noah Harari: This is definitely a coup. Israel is on its way to becoming a dictatorship - Haaretz - March 10th, 2023
- America can't keep writing a blank check to Israel's authoritarian government - Haaretz - March 2nd, 2023
- Economists post new warning: Judicial overhaul meltdown could be fast and furious - The Times of Israel - March 2nd, 2023
- Pompeo says Israel has biblical claim to Palestine and is not an ... - February 17th, 2023
- Zelensky urges Israel to send "David's Sling" to use "against Goliath" - Axios - February 17th, 2023
- Thousands Protest in Israel Over Netanyahus Judicial Overhaul - The ... - February 13th, 2023
- Explainer: Uproar over Israel judicial changes - what's it all about? - Reuters.com - February 13th, 2023
- Netanyahus Judicial Overhaul Proposal Sets Off Fury in Israel - The New York Times - January 12th, 2023
- Where are the Gulf Arab tourists? Israel's hopes fall short - January 3rd, 2023
- Ukraine didn't attend UN vote on Israeli occupation after Netanyahu called Zelensky - Axios - January 3rd, 2023
- Kol Israel Foundation raises ceremonial flag over its Holocaust National Memorial - Cleveland Jewish News - January 3rd, 2023
- Cantor Fromson, Temple Israel agree on new, five-year contract - Cleveland Jewish News - November 24th, 2022
- Trump: I could "easily" be Israel's prime minister - Axios - October 17th, 2022
- Netanyahu memoir: Dems feeling more leftist pressure on Israel than they publicly admit - Forward - October 17th, 2022
- Its driven by fear: Ukrainians and Russians with Jewish roots flee to Israel - The Guardian - October 17th, 2022
- How AIPAC and DMFI Outspent the Democratic Insurgency - The Intercept - October 17th, 2022
- Israel keeps building settlements and Palestinians keep dying. Peace is impossible this way - The Guardian - October 17th, 2022
- Azerbaijan's story mirrors that of Israel Aze.Media - Aze Media - October 17th, 2022
- UK-Israel relationship to hit new heights amid rocky times - CTech - October 17th, 2022
- Israel is fifth-most educated country in the world, report says - Ynetnews - October 17th, 2022
- Israel, Warrior Nation | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs - The Times of Israel - October 17th, 2022
- College leftists expand campaign to silence all talk of Zionism and Israel - New York Post - October 17th, 2022
- Israel Maps & Facts - World Atlas - October 10th, 2022
- Israel pays family of dead Palestinian-American detainee - October 10th, 2022
- After claim that possible new Israel govt will damage relations with US, Sen. Menendez stays silent - Yahoo News - October 10th, 2022
- The EU-Israel Association Council discussed the difficult path for peace in the region | EEAS Website - EEAS - October 10th, 2022
- Microbot Medical Receives Patent Allowance in Israel for the LIBERTY Robotic System - GlobeNewswire - October 10th, 2022
- Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez gets by Israel Gonzalez in second WBC title defense - The Ring - The Ring - September 18th, 2022
- Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19 Vaccine Now Available in Israel for Individuals Aged 12 and Older - Novavax Investor Relations - September 18th, 2022
- Israel hosts dragon boat race to mark 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties with China - Xinhua - September 18th, 2022
- The occupied West Bank cities at centre of resistance to Israel - Al Jazeera English - September 13th, 2022
- Moscow's invitation to Hamas could be meant as warning to Israel, analysts say - JNS.org - September 13th, 2022
- Alber Elbaz Gets the Museum Treatment in Israel - WWD - September 13th, 2022
- OneRepublic Lead Singer Says They're 'Pumped' to Return to Israel for Concert in November - Algemeiner - September 13th, 2022
- Bachelet deplores Israel's failure to grant visas for UN Human Rights staff in the occupied Palestinian territory - OHCHR - August 30th, 2022
- On the bus with an army of pro-Israel TikTok influencers J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - August 30th, 2022
- 7 great new films from Israel coming soon to a (big or small) screen near you - Forward - August 30th, 2022
- Why is America so obsessed with Israel? - Spiked - August 30th, 2022
- Disband this biased UN commission on Israel New York Daily News - New York Daily News - August 30th, 2022
- Israel country guide: Everything you need to know before you go - The Independent - August 30th, 2022
- Strike looms after court rejects states request to order teachers to work - The Times of Israel - August 30th, 2022
- UN told Israel's imposition of apartheid must be 'wake-up call' to end impunity - Middle East Monitor - August 30th, 2022
- Caroline Glick: Israel is on its own against Iran - Cleveland Jewish News - August 30th, 2022
- Y-mAbs Therapeutics (YMAB) and Takeda (TAK) Granted Marketing Authorization in Israel for DANYELZA - StreetInsider.com - August 30th, 2022
- Israel Braces for Hottest Week of the Year - Israel News - Haaretz - August 29th, 2022
- Hizbullah Official: In Next War With Israel, We Will Turn Israelis' Lives Into Hell, They Will Be Pulling Bodies From Under The Ruins - Middle East... - August 29th, 2022
- Why the US and Israeli Right Really Hate the Iran Nuclear Deal - Scheerpost.com - August 29th, 2022
- Bahrain seeks to boost space collaboration with Israel - Arab News - August 29th, 2022
- Israel the country speaks for itself - Australian Jewish News - August 12th, 2022
- Americans Rarely See True Face of Israel's Bombing of Gaza - The Intercept - August 12th, 2022
- Everything Foreign Residents Need to Know about Buying an Apartment in Israel - JD Supra - August 12th, 2022
- Auburn basketball players baptized in Jordan River on tour of Israel - sportsspectrum.com - August 12th, 2022
- Shira Brown on Moving to Israel: 'How Could We Not?' Detroit Jewish News - The Jewish News - August 12th, 2022
- The Line Separating Israel From Palestine Has Been ErasedWhat Comes Next? - The Nation - August 12th, 2022
- As Gaza ceasefire holds, Israel lifts all security restrictions - The Times of Israel - August 12th, 2022
- Gen Z progressive says he's 'pro-Israel' and 'pro-Palestinian' - Jewish Insider - August 12th, 2022
- Israel and the Occupied Territories - Political solutions needed to halt cycles of violence - occupied Palestinian territory - ReliefWeb - August 12th, 2022
- Defence minister in Israel to discuss bilateral relations - Cyprus Mail - August 12th, 2022
- Israel - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - August 6th, 2022
- Israel kills top Islamic Jihad terrorist in Gaza, announces formal ... - August 6th, 2022
- "Was She Fighting?": Family Of Gaza's 5-Year-Old Killed In Israel Strike - NDTV - August 6th, 2022
- Murphy heading to Israel this weekend for 4-day trip - NJ.com - August 6th, 2022
- Why Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad are fighting again - Washington Examiner - August 6th, 2022
- Jaguars training camp: 1-on-1 interview with DT Israel Antwine - Black and Teal - August 6th, 2022
- The power we had was astonishing: ex-soldiers on Israels government in the occupied territories - The Guardian - August 6th, 2022
- The Long Con(federation): Understanding the latest attempts to legitimize Israeli colonization - Mondoweiss - July 31st, 2022
- Party in Israel Ends with One Death as Sinkhole Opened Up In the Middle of a Swimming Pool - Nature World News - July 31st, 2022
- Far-right religious nationalists are edging closer to power in Israel - Arab News - July 31st, 2022
- Israels Music Business Has the Ears of the Majors - Variety - July 31st, 2022
- An ancient Israeli law leaves thousands of women 'chained' to their wayward husbands - ABC News - July 31st, 2022
- OUT AND ABOUT: Visit to Israel brings the Bible to life - Northwest Georgia News - July 31st, 2022
- Israel/OPT: Immediately halt forced eviction of more than 1000 West Bank residents and stop demolitions of Bedouin homes in the Negev/Naqab - Amnesty... - July 19th, 2022
- Israel's advocates offer political cover to Biden over embarrassing trip - Mondoweiss - July 19th, 2022
- Joc Pederson joins Team Israel for 2023 World Baseball Classic J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - July 19th, 2022
- The identity crisis of Israel's left-wing parties - Ynetnews - July 19th, 2022
- Final act of empire? U.S., Israel and the Saudis now heading for war with Iran - Salon - July 19th, 2022
Comments