Apply same standards to Israel

The comments of Israeli Defense minister Ehud Barak and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Other views of Thursday’s Baghdad conference debate on Iran should be compared to Israel’s settlement activities and its nuke program.

Barak stated that Iranians are “trying to reach a ‘technical agreement’ which will create the impression of progress in the talks, in order to remove some of the pressure as well as to put off the intensification of sanctions.” He also said that a clear bar should be set for Iran “so there is no ‘window or crack’ . . . (to creep) through.”

Netanyahu stated that Iran “may agree to something in principle but not implement it. They might even agree to implement something that does not materially derail their nuclear weapons program. . . . They know that sometimes you have to sacrifice a pawn to save the king.” When the Israelis imagine Iran’s strategy, do they feel like they are looking in a mirror?

Why does Iran have to have its program inspected while Israel doesn’t? Curt Freeberg

Byron, Ill.