Prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has described the agreement in Geneva as “a historic mistake”, vowing that Israel will keep Tehran from getting a nuclear weapon.
“What was accomplished in Geneva is not a historic agreement; it’s a historic mistake. Today the world has become much more dangerous, because the most dangerous regime in the world took a meaningful step toward acquiring the most dangerous weapon in the world.”
He argued that the agreement meant that for the first time the world powers had agreed to the enrichment of uranium in Iran, ignoring the United Nations security council resolutions that they themselves championed.
“The sanctions have been removed for cosmetic Iranian concessions that can be cancelled in weeks. This agreement and what it means threaten many countries, including, of course, Israel. Israel is not bound by this agreement. The regime in Iran is committed to Israel’s destruction and Israel has the right and responsibility to defend itself, by itself, against any threat.”
Diplomatic setback
The Geneva agreement marks a major diplomatic setback for Mr Netanyahu, who had declared that stopping Iran's nuclear programme was his number one priority. He failed in his efforts to convince world leaders that the change in Iran's tone in recent months did not signify a substantive policy shift when it came to its nuclear ambitions. Recent weeks have been marked by very public policy disagreements between Jerusalem and Washington over the terms of the Geneva agreement.
Mr Netanyahu had argued that sanctions had put Iran “on the ropes” and must be maintained, and that only a credible military option would prevent Teheran acquiring a nuclear bomb.
Foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman said the Geneva deal was Iran’s “greatest diplomatic triumph” since its 1979 Islamic revolution, and predicted it would result in a Middle East arms race.
He said the Israeli government would conduct a strategic review of its options.
Economy minister Naftali Bennett indicated that Israel maintained the option of a unilateral military strike as a last option, if the world failed to act.
“Israel does not see itself as bound by this very bad agreement. If Israel sees that Iran is endangering it, Israel is permitted to defend itself and is capable of defending itself.”
Defence minister Moshe Yaalon noted that Iran’s military nuclear programme was not curtailed in any practical way under the terms hammered out at Geneva.
“The agreement is a historic mistake that allows Iran to join the family of nations despite it being the most active and flourishing terrorist enterprise in the world that uninhibitedly extends its deadly arms across the globe, primarily against Western nations.”
However, president Shimon Peres sounded a more conciliatory note.
Addressing the Iranian people, Mr Peres said, “You are not our enemies and we are not yours. There is a possibility to solve this issue diplomatically. It is in your hands.”
