The public rift between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Iranian nuclear issue is often described as a personality dispute.
But a senior Israeli official argued that the break has been building for more than two years and reflects a deep disagreement about how best to limit the threat of a rising Iran.Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s minister of intelligence, outlined his government’s view in a telephone interview Wednesday.
Steinitz, who helps oversee Iran strategy for Netanyahu, said he understands that the United States wants to tie Iran’s hands for a decade until a new generation takes power there.
Netanyahu’s skepticism reached a tipping point last month when he concluded that the U.S. had offered so many concessions to Iran that any deal reached would be bad for Israel.
According to Israeli press reports, the U.S. has offered to allow Iran to operate at least 6,500 centrifuges.
Steinitz said Israel’s government understands the U.S. goal of a 10- to 15-year duration for the agreement, which would constrain Iran into what’s likely to be the next generation after the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who is 75 .
– See more at: http://dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Columnist/2015/Feb-23/288190-the-us-israel-rift-is-deeper-than-personalities.ashx#sthash.ykclZZrI.dpuf
Categories: Americas, United States