Israel at War: Week 82
Privately, Prime Minister Netanyahu has expressed frustration with President Trump’s actions regarding his Middle East policies. Reluctant to publicly criticize him, he points out in private conversations inconsistencies between the president’s public statements and his actions, specifically toward Turkey and Iran. He has expressed frustration and concern “with Trump’s support for Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan’s grip on Syria, though he gives Israel permission to operate within the country where it chooses.”
President Trump beginning negotiations with Iran also troubles him. He has said, “A bad deal with Iran is worse than no deal at all.” Yet President Trump declares, “A deal is going to happen.” The question is, however, what kind of deal? “Sources have told the Reuters News Agency that the Iran deal is shaping up to be not significantly different from the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump lambasted and ultimately withdrew from in 2018.” While there are concerns both leaders agree that there must be “a dismantling of Iran’s ability to achieve a nuclear weapon.” President Trump said as much yesterday on Meet the Press, demanding “total dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program.”
At a recent meeting sponsored by Magen David Adom in our area former IDF Spokesman Jonathan Conricus expressed a similar concern with President Trump’s administration’s actions toward Iran. He expressed concern that President Trump’s administration might be outmaneuvered by the skilled Iranian negotiating team. Taking a strong, hard line view toward Israel does not sit well with the international community. Yet, we must urge the President to stand firmly against those powers and their aims that threaten both Israel and the United States, especially Turkey and Iran, as the existence of both or our countries depends on it.
(Source: The Times of Israel)
