Senior state officials in Jerusalem admit diplomatic efforts to prevent nuclear agreement between Tehran, world powers have been unsuccessful. Sources also criticize conflict with US, say ‘it’s causing damage. Kerry is not Israel’s enemy’
Israel has failed in its diplomatic efforts to prevent a nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, senior state officials in Jerusalem admitted Monday night.
The nuclear talks are expected to resume in Geneva on Wednesday, and Israeli officials estimate that unless an unexpected crisis takes place, an interim agreement will be signed in this round or shortly afterwards.
Meanwhile, sources in Jerusalem have also criticized the recent conflict with the United State. “It’s causing damage. (US Secretary of State) John Kerry is not Israel’s enemy,” one of the officials said.
“We are at least taking comfort in the fact that there may be some amendments compared to the previous agreement which wasn’t signed,” said a state official involved in the details. “However, we believe that ahead of the bigger agreement we have managed to direct the world’s attentions to the important clauses.”
Israeli officials say the sanctions on Iran will likely be eased by billions of dollars, which is expected to strengthen the collapsing Iranian economy.
Official dinner at President’s Residence for Francois Hollande (Photo: Noam Moskowitz)
In the past two weeks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some of his ministers have been trying to influence the content of the agreement set to be signed soon. In addition to numerous interviews to the media, Netanyahu and his ministers spoke to senior Western officials in a bid to convince them to change the deal taking shape.
Following these efforts, sources in Jerusalem said Monday night that there was a chance that some of the clauses would be amended in order to make things difficult for the Iranians. Nonetheless, state officials are speaking about the current talks as “a round we lost in.”
Netanyahu has been trying in the past two days to convince French President Francois Hollande to oppose the agreement, which he defines as “very bad.” On Wednesday, Netanyahu will head to Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Two days ago there were still some state officials who hoped Netanyahu would be able to convince Putin to work to change the deal, but that hope seems to have disappeared too.
During the festive dinner held Monday at the President’s Residence in honor of Hollande’s visit to Israel, President Shimon Peres said: “Israel thanks you for demonstrating leadership in deciding to block Iran from fulfilling its dangerous ambitions. Your unequivocal convictions influence the entire international community.
“You have made it clear that without intense pressure, Iran will continue to threaten the peace in Israel, the Middle East and the world. This pressure should not be stopped until Iran proves its intentions with actions, not just words.”
Meanwhile, the dispute between Netanyahu and Kerry continues. On Monday, the US secretary of state commented on the Israeli prime minister’s criticism over the upcoming deal with Iran, saying that he believed Netanyahu was wrong when he said that such a deal would harm Israel’s security.
“I have great respect for his concerns about his country,” Kerrysaid in Washington, but maintained that instead of making Israel less safe, an accord with Iran would actually reduce the country’s risk.
An Israeli state official asked if the rift with the United States was serious enough to damage the relations between the countries, said: “They are starting to get offended. The personal things said by anonymous sources in Israel about Kerry were exaggerated and should not have been said. It causes damage. Kerry is not Israel’s enemy.”
Kerry was scheduled to arrive in Israel this weekend, but said the visit would likely be postponed and that he would try to make it after Thanksgiving, in late November.
mar55 Said:
It appears that many on the right will support him even when they dont agree because they are afraid that if the right implodes Labor will return; as in the past when Olmert came in.
The question at this point is what Israel will do after it has been sold out by Kerry/Obama. The deal that Iran will get will allow it to move forward with production of nuclear weapons, just as North Korea was able to do when it made a similar deal. The difference is that even North Korea is not stupid or crazy enough to apply nuclear weapons even where it clearly has them. Iran is both crazy and stupid enough to apply them as soon as it gets them.
I think those who ruled the industrial powers during the Cold War are nostalgic for the power they once had and are looking for some new crisis to put them back into fashion. Both NATO and cousins in the East need a nuclear Iran to further justify their existence. Bombing the Serbs just didn’t have the same political momentum they needed.
Attila Somfalvi’s defense of Kerry and the Western sellout of Israel is all that’s wrong with Israel’s media elite.
who is the state official??? Is it a livni associate or a leftist civil service employee. this would be important info in determining the credibility of the claim. We already know that kerry/obama is miffed by Israel’s “obstruction” but this can be an effort to politically undermine the right. Kerry is a chronic liar and a useless fool, which automatically qualifies him for his position in the US admin.
It appears that BB is unable to accomplish anything and has poor judgment. He did not attack Iran when it was more feasible at the behest of Obama and now he appears to be dumped by obama. Furthermore, he appears to be dancing to the obama tune oon the negotiations. Not a sign of a leader.
Kerry IS Israel’s enemy. For that matter he is America’s enemy as well. And whatever personal things were said about lurch were all richly deserved, and who gives a crap if that ugly creature was offended. Kerry is a despicable liar and traitor.
With friends like Kerry and Obama, Israel needs no enemies. Also has plenty of those also.
“A nation that dwells alone” – never so clearly seen!
Kerry may not be Israel’s enemy but his stupidity certainly is.