BICOM

Israel’s political leaders yesterday exchanged views on the diplomatic efforts being made between Iran and the international community over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Iranian officials and representatives of the P5+1 forum (United States, UK, China, Russia, France and Germany) are set to begin talks in Geneva today. Yesterday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Zarif indicated that he would look to agree a “road map” towards a resolution which would likely involve some restrictions on Iran’s production of uranium in exchange for a loosening of international sanctions.

Speaking yesterday at the opening of the Knesset winter session, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to sanctions relief without the complete cessation of Iran’s nuclear programme. He said, “It would be a historic mistake to reduce pressure on Iran now, a moment before sanctions achieve their goal,” adding “We need to remember that international pressure is what is bringing results.”

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein cautioned against the overtures made by Iran’s President Rouhani towards the West, saying “The Iranian president prepared a honey trap.” In his speech to the plenum, President Shimon Peres also noted that “a nuclear Iran is a danger to the whole world and destabilizes the region.”

However, leader of the opposition and Labour head Shelly Yachimovich cast a slightly different light. Although she said, “There is no doubt that we can defend ourselves [from a nuclear Iran] and that all options are on the table,” she questioned Netanyahu, asking “Why are you so apocalyptic? We survived Pharaoh, we survived 2,000 years in exile, the Inquisition, the Holocaust. We will survive this.”

In this morning’s Yediot Ahronot, Alex Fishman says that “Israel cannot dictate its terms” during the Geneva talks “in speeches and threats.” Instead he suggests that in place of “Churchillian pronouncements,” Israel should focus on using its intelligence capability, experts and information to demonstrate “what is actually taking place in the Iranian nuclear program.”