BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday reiterated his determination to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. He said Israel is working alongside the international community towards this goal.

Netanyahu has been sharply critical of the interim deal agreed last weekend in Geneva between the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) and Iran, pointing out that it allows Tehran some sanctions relief but does not require Iran to dismantle any of its centrifuges. Speaking yesterday at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, at a ceremony marking the Jewish festival of Chanukah, Netanyahu said “the greatest darkness that threatens the world today is that of a nuclear Iran.” He emphasised that “We are now holding contacts with the U.S. and the P5+1 governments, with the major powers, regarding the type of agreement that could banish this darkness, and it must, in the end, lead to the result of the dismantling of Iran’s military nuclear capability.”

According to Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, US President Obama has asked Netanyahu to “take a breather” from recent vocal criticism of the interim deal. Nonetheless, in an opinion piece in the New York Times, Israel’s former-National Security Advisor, Yaakov Amidror, who stood down from his position just weeks ago, said “The agreement represents a failure, not a triumph, of diplomacy.”

Israel’s President Shimon Peres also addressed the diplomatic developments with Iran during a state visit to Mexico. Peres said, “Israel like the rest of the international community prefers a diplomatic solution. But the international community will not tolerate a nuclear Iran.” He emphasised that “As far as Israel is concerned, we do not consider the Iranian people our enemies,” and added “There is an opportunity to solve this issue diplomatically. It is in your [Iran’s] hands. Reject terrorism. Stop the nuclear program. Stop the development of long-range missiles.”