BICOM

For a full analysis of Netanyahu’s red line strategy click here.

Yesterday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, in which he defined what he sees as the red line the world needs to set for Iran’s nuclear programme.

Netanyahu demonstrated this visually, drawing a red line on a picture of a bomb representing Iran’s nuclear programme. According to Netanyahu’s assessment, the red line will be reached next spring or summer at current rates of enrichment of medium level uranium.

Israel’s Minister for Strategic Affairs, Moshe Ya’alon, of Netanyahu’s Likud Party, spoke in support of the delineation of red lines, commenting ‘Where red lines were set [in past historical crises], the evil could be contained, and when this was not the case, evil managed to take away quite a few lives.’

Similarly, Interior Minister Eli Yishai, leader of the Shas party, also complimented Netanyahu’s stance, saying ‘One hopes the speech will make the world realise the Iranian threat is a real threat. The United Nations must fulfil its historic role and find a way to stop Iran’s nuclear program before such an option will no longer be available.’

However, leader of the opposition Shaul Mofaz argued that Netanyahu’s speech had not done enough, saying ‘Netanyahu drew a nice sketch, not an international roadmap that could halt the nuclear program.’

Meanwhile, Labour Party leader Shelly Yachimovich argued that the key to thwarting Iran’s nuclear development lies in close cooperation with Israel’s allies, saying ‘red lines are not set by brandishing pictures on a stage, but rather through talks held in closed rooms, and the renewal of trust between us and our most important ally — the United States.’