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The six global powers – United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany – finalized an agreement with Iran over the weekend that relieves sanctions on the Islamic Republic without requiring it to destroy its uranium-enrichment program.
“What was achieved last night in Geneva is not an historic agreement; it is an historic mistake,” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted on Sunday. “Today the world has become a much more dangerous place because the most dangerous regime in the world has taken a significant step toward attaining the most dangerous weapon in the world.
“For the first time, the world’s leading powers have agreed to uranium enrichment in Iran while ignoring the UN Security Council decisions that they themselves led,” the Israeli PM stated. “Sanctions that required many years to put in place contain the best chance for a peaceful solution. These sanctions have been given up in exchange for cosmetic Iranian concessions that can be cancelled in weeks.
“This agreement and what it means endanger many countries including, of course, Israel. Israel is not bound by this agreement. The Iranian regime is committed to the destruction of Israel and Israel has the right and the obligation to defend itself, by itself, against any threat. As Prime Minister of Israel, I would like to make it clear: Israel will not allow Iran to develop a military nuclear capability,” Netanyahu asserted.
“The interim deal was signed,” lamented Israeli Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, who was in the US on a diplomacy blitz against the accord with Iran. “It is a bad deal. But it was signed.”
“We will keep our heads high and continue to fight for our safety,” he vowed. “In any event, the State of Israel knows how to defend herself.”
US President Barack Obama called the deal a “first step toward a comprehensive solution.”
“I know that there are those who will assert that this deal is imperfect. Well, they too bear a responsibility, and that is to tell people what the better alternative is,” US Secretary of State John Kerry said, in response to critics.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the deal as “what could turn out to be the beginnings of a historic agreement.”
“We also said that a diplomatic accord would be good,” Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid said. “A diplomatic accord is certainly better than war, a diplomatic accord is better than a situation of permanent confrontation – just not this agreement.”
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon called the Iran nuclear agreement “a surrender to the Iranian smile and charm offensive and Iranian deceit, the goal of which is to buy time without its military nuclear program being harmed in any practical way.”
Indeed, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani acknowledged, “no matter what interpretations are given, Iran’s right to enrichment has been recognized,” adding that he was eager to begin discussing a permanent accord.
The signing of the deal is “a disappointment for those of us who have worked to pressure Iran’s economy and impose the toughest sanctions in history on Iran – the same sanctions that brought the regime to the negotiation table,” according to a statement by United Against a Nuclear Iran, an American-based not-for-profit organization. “By not agreeing to dismantle a single centrifuge, Iran has not rolled back its nuclear infrastructure and with the many centrifuges that it is currently operating, Iran retains the ability to breakout and produce enough weapons-grade uranium for a nuclear weapon in as little as two months. At the same time, the carefully constructed sanctions architecture developed over decades has been significantly rolled back.”
Close to 140,000 people worldwide signed a United with Israel petition urging against a “bad deal” between the P5+1 and Iran. It was sent to Obama; John Boehner, Speaker of the House; Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader of the House; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Last Thursday, the UWI website was cyber-attacked, apparently by Iran supporters and due to its success in reaching out to millions around the world.
UWI was disappointed that the Iran nuclear agreement went ahead but will continue in its efforts to raise international awareness of its danger to Israel and to the West.
Author: Atara Beck, Staff Writer for United with Israel
Date: Nov. 25, 2013
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