Netanyahu bids to foil Iran nuke deal
WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will attempt to foil an emerging White House-backed nuclear deal with Iran with a speech early this morning (Thai time) to the powerful pro-Israel Aipac lobby.
Mr Netanyahu infuriated the White House and Democratic lawmakers by accepting an invitation from US President Barack Obama’s Republican foes to speak on Capitol Hill last night, Washington time.
Also addressing the 16,000 Aipac delegates are Washington’s UN envoy Samantha Power and National Security Adviser Susan Rice, who last week slammed Mr Netanyahu for presenting at a joint session of the US Congress without the administration’s blessing.
A member of the Israeli entourage told journalists on Sunday no offence to Mr Obama was intended.
“We are trying to explain to the Americans what causes us concern,” he said on condition of anonymity. “We know a great deal about the emerging agreement. In our view, it is a bad agreement.”
The official would not reveal the source of the “excellent information” Israelis have about the deal between the Islamic republic and the so-called P5+1 group to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb.
In exchange, the West would ease sanctions over its nuclear program, which Iran insists is purely civilian.
Israel worries that Iran and world powers will clinch a deal removing restrictions without sufficient safeguards.
Mr Netanyahu’s trip comes just four weeks before a Mar 31 target for a framework deal with Iran. Negotiators intend to pin down the technical details of a comprehensive agreement by Jun 30.
The Israeli official suggested that if a satisfactory agreement cannot be achieved within that timeframe, talks should be extended. “The date is not sacred,” he said.
In past visits to Aipac’s annual conference, Mr Netanyahu warned of the threat to Israel, the Middle East and the world at large, that a nuclear-armed Islamic republic poses, comparing it to the Nazi Holocaust of European Jews.
Educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Mr Netanyahu revels in his knowledge of American idioms when addressing US audiences.
In a widely quoted 2012 speech he said Iran’s construction of underground nuclear facilities and development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) belies its claim that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
“If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then what is it?” he asked the conference. “It’s a duck. But this duck is a nuclear duck. And it’s time the world started calling a duck a duck.”
Last year, he played on a Budweiser beer advert to warn of danger from Iranian Scud missiles. “You remember that beer commercial, ‘This Bud’s for you?’ Well, when you see Iran building ICBMs, just remember, America, that Scud’s for you.”
Mr Obama has refused to meet Mr Netanyahu during his visit, and Vice-President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry will both be abroad.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is warning that public discussion of select details of the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran will make it more difficult to reach a deal that prevents the country from developing atomic weapons.
Kerry told reporters yesterday he was concerned by reports that details of the talks would be revealed in coming days.