Emergency Meeting of the Israeli Government: Nuclear Agreement 'Puts Israel's Survival at Risk'

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the nuclear 'understanding' between Iran and world powers and held an emergency meeting with his cabinet on Friday, April 14. According to reports from Israeli media, Netanyahu informed relevant ministers, heads of intelligence agencies, and the Chief of Staff of the Israeli army about his views on this agreement. In a phone conversation with Barack Obama, the President of the United States, on the evening of Thursday, April 13, Netanyahu told him that this agreement 'seriously jeopardizes the life and survival of Israel.' During the call initiated by Obama, the Israeli Prime Minister told the U.S. President that the agreement legitimizes Iran's nuclear program, improves Iran's economy, and increases Iran's aggression and support for terrorism in the Middle East and beyond. Netanyahu made these statements shortly after Obama referred to the Lausanne agreement as 'historic' and asked its opponents what better alternative existed and whether war could be a better option. Although Obama did not directly mention Israel in his remarks at the White House, Netanyahu's government is depicted as the staunchest opponent of the nuclear agreement between Iran and the powers. According to international media reports, the U.S. President told Netanyahu that despite the Lausanne agreement, 'America's concerns about Iran's support for terrorism and the threat to Israel from Iran have not diminished.' Netanyahu responded to Obama that 'the alternative to the agreement with Iran is to show determination against this country and increase pressure on it, and this process must continue until a final agreement is reached.' Meanwhile, a senior Israeli official, whose name was not mentioned by AFP, called the Lausanne agreement a 'historical mistake' moments after the details of the agreement were released, stating that 'the world will be much more at risk from now on.' Yuval Steinitz, Israel's Minister of Intelligence and Strategic Affairs, also reacted to the agreement by saying that the Israeli government considers it 'far from reality' and will continue its pressure to ensure that the final agreement, which is set to be signed in three months, is not as bad. Steinitz also stated on Thursday that 'the Israeli government will use everything in its power to prevent Iran and the world powers from reaching an agreement,' but the achievement of the Lausanne agreement has largely left Israel disappointed. Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister, also said on Friday, April 14, to Israel Radio that world powers 'showed great agitation to reach an agreement with Iran, and Iran was able to dictate its views to the other side.' Meanwhile, Israel hopes to increase its pressure on the White House regarding Iran through the U.S. Congress; during the recent visit of John Boehner, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, to Jerusalem, Netanyahu discussed this matter with him. Boehner also stated on Thursday night in his first reaction to the Lausanne agreement that 'Congress must carefully review the provisions of this agreement' and added, 'Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. will continue to pressure the White House to clarify the details of the agreement and answer the remaining fundamental questions.' Boehner, who had met with Netanyahu and also with Moshe Ya'alon, Israel's Defense Minister, also said that Barack Obama has 'deviated' from the previous goals he set regarding Iran's nuclear program. On the other hand, the 'AIPAC' organization, the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee, which is considered the most powerful Israeli lobby in the U.S., stated in its announcement that the Lausanne agreement 'leaves Iran a country on the verge of becoming a nuclear power.' In the domestic political scene of Israel, Isaac Herzog, the leader of the 'Zionist Camp,' who seems to be soon turning into the opposition after a recent election defeat, stated in a statement on Thursday that the Israeli government should work closely with the U.S. to ensure that the upcoming final agreement between Iran and the powers addresses the risks of Iran's nuclear program.