Benjamin Netanyahu will reiterate his warning against a nuclear Iran to the UN in New York on Thursday amid friction with U.S. ally who refused to impose Tehran’s the “red line” demanded by Netanyahu. “I remind the international community that it is impossible to tolerate the most dangerous country in the world to acquire the world’s most dangerous weapon,” Netanyahu warned Tuesday, the day before his departure to New York on Wednesday.
In the entourage of Prime Minister, it is hoped that his speech will lead to “increased international determination” to prevent the regime in Tehran to acquire nuclear military capacity. Since his rise to power in March 2009, Netanyahu has placed the “Iranian threat” in the center of his foreign policy and has not ceased to exhibit it to the Israeli and international public.
Israel, considered the sole nuclear weapon power in the region, and the Western powers suspect that Iran wants to acquire nuclear weapons under cover of its civilian nuclear program, categorically denied by Tehran.
Head of the Israeli government, who supports the military option, considers that international sanctions have no result so far against nuclear ambitions of Iran’s leaders. He recently said for U.S. television stations that Iran will only need six months to be “90% of its way” to have of the amount of enriched uranium needed to produce an atomic bomb. In recent weeks, Netanyahu raised his voice, calling on Obama to set “red lines” that Iran will not be able to cross with its nuclear program, otherwise they will expose themselves to a military attack.
But he finally hit repeatedly and unequivocally a veto from Washington when, last Sunday, President Barack Obama described as “noise” Israel’s calls for an Iranian ultimatum. Although Obama said he understands the concerns of Israel and wants to ensure that Iran will not get access to nuclear weapons, he is in favor of diplomacy and strengthening economic sanctions that already hit Iran.
These differences, expressed in broad daylight sparked an intense diplomatic crisis between Israel and its American partner. Netanyahu was even accused by the Israeli media that he is getting involved in the U.S. presidential campaign for Republican Mitt Romney, sharing with him ideological affinities. White House announced that Obama and Netanyahu will not meet during the UN General Assembly because of “incompatibility” of their agendas.
During his three-day visit to New York, Netanyahu will meet, however, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and conservative Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper who became the first ally of Israel on the international stage. In fact, the two countries remain “united” on the Iranian nuclear file, some officials and analysts said.
“Basically, they both agree, not only on the danger of Iran, but also on their determination to prevent this country to accede to the nuclear bomb,” said Zalman Shoval, former Israeli ambassador to the United States.
In his opinion, Netanyahu will have to take advantage of the UN General Assembly to explain that differences with the U.S. “are only on details and not on the merits of the issue”. “If Netanyahu succeeds to clarify Israeli position on the main issues, and he is perfectly capable of it, it will be a success,” said Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor, in charge of intelligence, Monday for journalists.
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