With a deal appearing likely between the United States and Iran, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders are growing increasingly concerned over the ramifications of such a deal.

Some of the obvious points being rejected by Israeli leaders include the fact the Iranians would have to receive 24 days notification prior to an inspection and be subject to Iranian approval. In addition, Israel objects to the provision that the economic ban on Iran will be lifted immediately upon signing before Tehran shows any good will or adherence to the agreement.

The prime minister warned the international community will accept a deal with Iran at any price. He told party colleagues at a faction meeting “If not for our efforts, Iran would have nuclear weapons today. We remain committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons”.

In an address to Knesset on Monday, 26 Tammuz, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke of the possible deal that is brewing. Following is an excerpt from the prime minister’s plenum address.

“Even over the weekend, as Iran continued to receive more and more concessions at the negotiating table, Iranian President Rouhani led a march of hatred in the streets of Tehran in which the masses cried, ‘Death to America! Death to Israel!’.” If the concessions continued even after these unequivocal calls for the destruction of those conducting the negotiations, it seems that there are those who are ready to make an agreement at any price – and this bad agreement is unavoidable.

“In any case, we never committed ourselves to preventing an agreement, certainly not one that the major powers are ready to sign at any price. We did commit ourselves to prevent Iran from arming itself with nuclear weapons – and indeed, were it not for our efforts over the years, Iran would already be able to develop atomic bombs.

“Our commitment is to prevent Iran from arming itself with nuclear weapons and it is valid today more than ever. I call on all those who care about Israel’s security to unite behind this commitment.”

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon on Monday reiterated the deal is a “bad deal”, adding Israel will prepare to defend itself in response. In his briefing to the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee the senior minister warned the leaders of the six world powers and Tehran were about to reach agreement, a deal that will permit Iran to reach nuclear capabilities to quickly for comfort. He reiterated warnings pertaining to Iran’s backing of Hizbullah, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, questioning the wisdom the impending deal and detailing to some extent the resulting existential threats that will face Israel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)