Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., April 19, 2009 Nisan 25, 5769 | | Israel Time: 21:13 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 00:00 28/10/2008
Sources: Sarkozy views Obama stance on Iran as 'utterly immature'
By Barak Ravid
Tags: Israel News, Nicolas Sarkozy 

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is very critical of U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama's positions on Iran, according to reports that have reached Israel's government.

Sarkozy has made his criticisms only in closed forums in France. But according to a senior Israeli government source, the reports reaching Israel indicate that Sarkozy views the Democratic candidate's stance on Iran as "utterly immature" and comprised of "formulations empty of all content."

Obama visited Paris in July, and the Iranian issue was at the heart of his meeting with Sarkozy. At a joint press conference afterward, Obama urged Iran to accept the West's proposal on its nuclear program, saying that Iran was creating a serious situation that endangered both Israel and the West.
Advertisement
According to the reports reaching Israel, Sarkozy told Obama at that meeting that if the new American president elected in November changed his country's policy toward Iran, that would be "very problematic."

Until now, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany have tried to maintain a united front on Iran. But according to the senior Israeli source, Sarkozy fears that Obama might "arrogantly" ignore the other members of this front and open a direct dialogue with Iran without preconditions.

Following their July meeting, Sarkozy repeatedly expressed disappointment with Obama's positions on Iran, concluding that they were "not crystallized, and therefore many issues remain open," the Israeli source said. Advisors to the French president who held separate meetings with Obama's advisors came away with similar impressions and expressed similar disappointment.

According to the Israeli source, Sarkozy plans to begin intensive negotiations with the new American administration, regardless of whether it is headed by Obama or Republican Sen. John McCain, even before the new president takes office in January, with the goal of persuading him to continue the current policy on Iran.

But Sarkozy's pessimism does not stem only from Obama's stance; it also stems from the overall behavior of the international community toward Iran's nuclear program, and particularly its inability to agree on a fourth round of Security Council sanctions against the Islamic Republic. This foot-dragging will make it impossible to effect a change in Iran's nuclear policy, Sarkozy believes.

The French intelligence community believes that Iran has already obtained about 40 percent of the enriched uranium it would need for its first bomb, and that at its current rate, it will obtain the rest of the uranium it needs in the spring or summer of 2009.

However, French agencies are divided over what Iran is likely to do once it has this uranium. One view is that the Iranians will immediately make a nuclear bomb, in order to demonstrate their capability. The other is that Iran will continue enriching uranium without making a bomb - at least until it has enough enriched uranium for several bombs.

Related articles:
  • Iran to Sarkozy: Our nukes don't pose threat to region, world
  • Dennis Ross on why he's working for Obama and how he'd talk to Iran
  • Aluf Benn / Election limbo
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Hebrew harmony
    Watch American Idol star Adam Lambert singing in Hebrew
    Top recipes exposed
    Try the cheap way to eat in some of Tel Aviv's top restaurants
      1.   If Sarkozy changes his stance... 02:44  |  newsreader 28/10/08
      2.   Utterly immature,.....we agree Mr. President 03:03  |  Lynn 28/10/08
      3.   Obama wary of Sarkozys reform program for France 03:05  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/10/08
      4.   Interesting 03:06  |  Maria 28/10/08
      5.   Are the US Jews are agaisnt Israeli Jews 03:32  |  CP 28/10/08
      6.   us jews 04:10  |  Paul 28/10/08
      7.   Swiss Dino 04:21  |  BoB BerrY 28/10/08
      8.   Sarkozy 04:50  |  Iamashamed 28/10/08
      9.   "Sarkozy wary on Obama`s position on Iran" 05:11  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/08
      10.   The real problem is 05:34  |  Ibn Musa 28/10/08
      11.   CP, Iran did no such thing... 05:41  |  BBSNews 28/10/08
      12.   #5 - CP 05:56  |  MichaelF 28/10/08
      13.   Now *that* is antisemitism Paul... 05:57  |  BBSNews 28/10/08
      14.   BoB, Sarkozy actually wants Obama,,, 06:01  |  BBSNews 28/10/08
      15.   An attempt to manipulate the Jewish vote 06:20  |  Michael 28/10/08
      16.   Obama 06:42  |  Charles 28/10/08
      17.   American Ignorance 07:04  |  dovvod 28/10/08
      18.   If Sarkozy wants to attack Iran, let him do it 07:14  |  Natallie Durson 28/10/08
      19.   Reply to CP ( #5) 07:23  |  Tod Zuckerman 28/10/08
      20.   IAEA repeated again their suspicions about Iran 07:27  |  PETER SM 28/10/08
      21.   #17, Durson 07:56  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/08
      22.   Swiitzerland, Germany and Austria in bed with Iran 08:00  |  Elly 28/10/08
      23.   dowod, point taken but... 08:09  |  BBSNews 28/10/08
      24.   PeterSM and "nuclear" intentions... 08:14  |  BBSNews 28/10/08
      25.   Sarko the hypocrit 08:55  |  American in Paris 28/10/08
      26.   Sarkozy... is a naughty boy... 08:58  |  Maureen Ann 28/10/08
      27.   Obama`s "formulations empty of all content." EXACTLY! 09:04  |  S 28/10/08
      28.   To CP criticizing fellow Jews 09:05  |  American in Paris 28/10/08
      29.   THE WORST CASE SCENARIO 09:17  |  Steve 28/10/08
      30.   BSNews -- lying through his teeth, as usual 09:39  |  SDHD 28/10/08
      31.   BBS Sarkozy is talking about SANCTIONS! 09:48  |  PETER SM 28/10/08
      32.   Strongman Sarkozy is a joke! 09:58  |  Fritz T. 28/10/08
      33.   "CLOSED FORUMS" 10:15  |  Cli 28/10/08
      34.   #33, Cli 10:31  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/08
      35.   European President Sarkozy speaks the truth 10:48  |  Johnny 28/10/08
      36.   Iran 10:50  |  Daniel Garcia 28/10/08
      37.   US Paranoia 11:06  |  Janet Brown 28/10/08
      38.   Here here! 11:09  |  Peter 28/10/08
      39.   Monsieur Le President: Please Tell Sen. Schumer 11:49  |  Ben Lolo 28/10/08
      40.   Translating `utterly` into French 12:00  |  allang 28/10/08
      41.   Obama = Chamberline 12:09  |  Nora 28/10/08
      42.   Sarko is there by american money 12:15  |  mehmet 28/10/08
      43.   NATALIE Where is ATTACK mentioned? 12:20  |  PETER SM 28/10/08
      44.   ALLANG Just because you do not know means? 12:22  |  PETER SM 28/10/08
      45.   Give Obama a chance 12:46  |  Vinod Joseph 28/10/08
      46.   Sarkozy only truthful world leader 13:09  |  r 28/10/08
      47.   inappropriate interference 13:12  |  samos 28/10/08
      48.   26 Maureen Ann - You should note that an 13:26  |  Ibn Musa 28/10/08
      49.   Sorry Daniel #36 - Iran has their own 13:28  |  spyguy 28/10/08
      50.   BBS no illusions, the only place for Jews in Islam is Dihimis 13:49  |  Simon 28/10/08
      51.   49 Spyguy, while you`re at it 13:51  |  Ibn Musa 28/10/08
      52.   BSnews - Take him seriously 14:00  |  Ibn Musa 28/10/08
      53.   views 14:02  |  Shmuelshachor 28/10/08
      54.   Cipora #9 Obama and McCain amount to the same thing 14:03  |  examiner 28/10/08
      55.   #18 Durson ....UnSC is what he is referring to 14:13  |  Lynn 28/10/08
      56.   THIS IS DRIVEL 14:38  |  Neutered Observer 28/10/08
      57.   The Problem with France is Leadership Lacking! 14:45  |  Monitor 28/10/08
      58.   The Irony 14:59  |  Mark of Lewiston 28/10/08
      59.   Night and Day. 15:40  |  Stephen. 28/10/08
      60.   Once again Jews march like sheep. 15:55  |  Jonathan 28/10/08
      61.   Obama is not even a US citizen 15:59  |  yo 28/10/08
      62.   #49 Spyguy 15:59  |  Dr Noam 28/10/08
      63.   to 59 16:12  |  Wojtek 28/10/08
      64.   #45 - Give Obama a chance to worsen the US economy? 16:24  |  redmike 28/10/08
      65.   #9, Cipora Julianna leading her private war against marxism 16:58  |  christoph 28/10/08
      66.   Swiss (Dino) SDA 17:02  |  David Israel 28/10/08
      67.   Just say NObama 17:03  |  Pastor Joseph 28/10/08
      68.   #64 redmike-oops polls just changed again 17:04  |  John Syracuse 28/10/08
      69.   #64 redmike 17:08  |  Cool B 28/10/08
      70.   #17 Dowod 18:10  |  Howard 28/10/08
      71.   Biased US press fails to report 18:14  |  Nathaniel 28/10/08
      72.   BBS NEWS #11 18:17  |  joe 28/10/08
      73.   Sarkozy is irrelevant speaking as independent French president 18:18  |  Mark B. 28/10/08
      74.   #.63. Wojtek. Oh yes, he is a natural leader..! 18:30  |  Stephen. 28/10/08
      75.   BBS#14 18:36  |  joe 28/10/08
      76.   Letting the French choose the US President 19:08  |  Pablo B 28/10/08
      77.   #11 BBS News 19:09  |  Not Quite 28/10/08
      78.   redmike #64 fuzzy thinking 19:12  |  John Syracuse 28/10/08
      79.   Sarkozy is right....hence he should 19:36  |  scalito 28/10/08
      80.   #48 Ibn Musa. (male) birds of a feather... 19:52  |  Maureen Ann 28/10/08
      81.   Sarkozy is right 19:54  |  Brod 28/10/08
      82.   Did he say that?!!! 19:56  |  ManintheMiddle 28/10/08
      83.   It´s not just "utterly immature" but tottaly irresponsible 20:01  |  JP 28/10/08
      84.   Ah, those "anonymous sources"! 20:08  |  Smolanit 28/10/08
      85.   #65 Nathaniel....not to worry 20:09  |  Lynn 28/10/08
      86.   Mehmet I don`t know what your evidence is 2nd try 20:12  |  David Israel 28/10/08
      87.   #48 Ibn Musa. (Male) birds of a feather stick together... 20:12  |  Maureen Ann 28/10/08
      88.   Sarkozy views 20:19  |  dave 28/10/08
      89.   I`M STARTING TO WARM TO M. SARKOZY 20:20  |  Ian 28/10/08
      90.   #64 redmike....not only the tax and spend game 20:24  |  Lynn 28/10/08
      91.   "utterly immature" & "formulations empty of all content?" 20:31  |  worst yet to come 28/10/08
      92.   Sarkozy DENYS this report 20:52  |  PZ 28/10/08
      93.   45Yes, Vinod. Give Obama a chance. Spoken like a true Englishman! 20:56  |  Neville Chamberlain 28/10/08
      94.   #79 Yep, worst yet to come ..You`ve said it chum! 21:01  |  Israeli 28/10/08
      95.   Hardly surprising 21:02  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/10/08
      96.   One thing is great about Obama as President 21:02  |  Pssd off American. 28/10/08
      97.   Liberals around the world cry `foul` over Ha`aretz article 21:07  |  Manny 28/10/08
      98.   "Formulations empty of all content" 21:18  |  Azohun Vei 28/10/08
      99.   #2 21:28  |  Anthony 28/10/08
      100.   Obama is now presidential allready 21:34  |  Mark B. 28/10/08
      101.   Mr Sarkozy 21:49  |  Persian Kitty 28/10/08
      102.   #54, examiner, you are oversimplifying 21:50  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/08
      103.   Although, I find McCain another poor substitute to the inept Bush 22:06  |  Michael Savage 28/10/08
      104.   Amazing! All Israeli bashers w/o exception are against Sarkozy! 22:14  |  S 28/10/08
      105.   #86 Pssd off American....shades of J Carter!! 22:17  |  Lynn 28/10/08
      106.   To Cipora Cohn #9: I disagree 22:18  |  Otto Rand 28/10/08
      107.   Sar-cozy has his beak in everybody,s affairs 22:27  |  Labhras 28/10/08
      108.   SDHS re BBS News #30 22:28  |  Persian Kitty 28/10/08
      109.   Mark B. 22:30  |  Persian Kitty 28/10/08
      110.   Cipora Julianna Kohn #91 22:42  |  examiner 28/10/08
      111.   Cipora Julianna Kohn #92 22:45  |  examiner 28/10/08
      112.   #11 BBS News Second Attempt 23:10  |  Not Quite 28/10/08
      113.   #11, Sorry But Israel is Here to Stay 23:12  |  Gary 28/10/08
      114.   Response to Janet Brown London 23:18  |  Lorraine 28/10/08
      115.   Obama on Iran 23:47  |  Jasper 28/10/08
      116.   French clown needs to shut up before US election 23:47  |  Adam habib 28/10/08
      117.   Obama in 08! 23:49  |  I`m converted! 28/10/08
      118.   #86 Pssd off American ***You`ve said it chum! But,Don`t Worry.. 23:53  |  Israeli 28/10/08
      119.   #87, Once Again, Liberals have Short Memory 23:54  |  Gary 28/10/08
      120.   #84 Say Israeli 23:58  |  ballistic 28/10/08
      121.   #80 Lynn..Having read this latest of yours,I say:COME BACK GEORGE 00:00  |  Kathy 29/10/08
      122.   #80 Yes Cupcake, Lynn 00:01  |  ballistic 29/10/08
      123.   Persian Kitty #91 00:03  |  Brod 29/10/08
      124.   You Have Finally Pushed Me Over the Edge 00:07  |  Joe the Plumber 29/10/08
      125.   Cipora Julianna Kohn #92 00:10  |  examiner 29/10/08
      126.   Man-boy 00:16  |  US Observer 29/10/08
      127.   allang An easy solution to your problem 00:28  |  Free Gilad Shalit 29/10/08
      128.   LINTHWAITE So why are the vast majority of US Jews voting Obama? 00:29  |  PETER SM 29/10/08
      129.   #85 Chris: Genius, now who killed Kennedy? 00:32  |  Howard 29/10/08
      130.   PERSIAN Kitty its up to the people of Iran to rid themselves 00:34  |  PETER SM 29/10/08
      131.   #59 Stephen: Good post, but... 00:35  |  Howard 29/10/08
      132.   Working for free..... 00:39  |  Gray 29/10/08
      133.   Sarkozy and assad and kadhafi 00:50  |  Fadi 29/10/08
      134.   #64 Red mike 00:54  |  ballistic 29/10/08
      135.   #75 Say Cupcake Lynn, you are a hoot! 01:00  |  ballistic 29/10/08
      136.   #60 Say Jonathan 01:04  |  ballistic 29/10/08
      137.   #98, examiner 01:32  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/10/08
      138.   Haaretz 01:38  |  Not Quite 29/10/08
      139.   #103 petersm so you opposed the war in Iraq then 01:48  |  Labhras 29/10/08
      140.   Kathy to Lynn@99 01:52  |  Roo 29/10/08
      141.   #2 Lynn. I trust you will join with Mr Sarkozy... 01:54  |  Maureen Ann 29/10/08
      142.   ashkenazim 01:57  |  triska 29/10/08
      143.   #109 petersm it is also up to Israel to fight it,s own wars 02:06  |  Labhras 29/10/08
      144.   Brod - Part I 02:13  |  Persian Kitty 29/10/08
      145.   RE #119 02:20  |  Jonathan 29/10/08
      146.   Brod - Part II 02:27  |  Persian Kitty 29/10/08
      147.   Sarkozy now DENIES this report 02:30  |  Petey 29/10/08
      148.   Brod - Part III 02:35  |  Persian Kitty 29/10/08
      149.   # 120 Roo.No She Is Not(black)Why?If you read her post properly . 02:45  |  Kathy 29/10/08
      150.   Cheese Eating Attack Monkeys 03:12  |  The Northern Wind 29/10/08
      151.   #122 Roo !Wrong and You Knew it! (3rd TRY) 03:26  |  Kathy 29/10/08
      152.   GRAY.You are obviously so much smarter than the French 04:13  |  PETER SM 29/10/08
      153.   PETER S&M 04:47  |  Persian Kitty 29/10/08
      154.   #Roo. You have to take what Kathy says with a grain of salt. 05:12  |  Maureen Ann 29/10/08
      155.   Sarkozy 06:24  |  Stacey 29/10/08
      156.   Told y`all to take this "report" with a grain of salt... 06:32  |  BBSNews 29/10/08
      157.   #153 Persian Kitty - Did you use "objectively" to PETER SM! 06:48  |  PADDY 29/10/08
      158.   PERSIAN Kitty.It was Khomeini who started threatening Israel NOT 06:58  |  PETER SM 29/10/08
      159.   #103 Michael Savage 07:00  |  Michael 29/10/08
      160.   Relax Sarko, Obama ain`t Bush 07:04  |  Shtarka 29/10/08
      161.   Israeli Intelligence? 07:18  |  Jane 29/10/08
      162.   #106, dear otto, of course you disagree 07:48  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/10/08
      163.   Obama is also very Pro-Palestinian 08:15  |  Mary 29/10/08
      164.   Bling Bling 08:22  |  Bill 29/10/08
      165.   To Mark B an Persian Kitty 09:01  |  Shtarka 29/10/08
      166.   Maureen Ann #154 Re Kathy 11:31  |  Roo 29/10/08
      167.   No Monsieur Le President you are naive 14:28  |  Ari 29/10/08
      168.   Maureen Ann - You`re stuttering 14:32  |  Ibn Musa 29/10/08
      169.   Ballistic - So there you are!!! 15:28  |  Ibn Musa 29/10/08
      170.   Mary it seems like you enjoy feeding fear 15:34  |  Ari 29/10/08
      171.   LOL @ Socialists 18:58  |  Frank Rizzo 29/10/08
      172.   Who exactly originated this lie 19:04  |  Chris 29/10/08
      173.   Frank Rizzo- Silly comments 19:53  |  J. Reece 29/10/08
      174.   #169 Ibn 22:08  |  ballistic 29/10/08
      175.   US Jews 22:29  |  Americana 29/10/08
      176.   French communique 22:40  |  Norma Armon 29/10/08
      177.   Obama 23:13  |  benalbanach 29/10/08
      178.   174 Ballistic - I never claimed to be a scholar 00:00  |  Ibn Musa 30/10/08
      179.   Ballistic - Continue with your "Ersatz Talmudic Quotes 00:02  |  Ibnb Musa 30/10/08
      180.   Sarkozy views 02:34  |  nick 30/10/08
      181.   Obama: avoids gay & muslim ties 03:21  |  annie O 30/10/08
      182.   IT`S A FALSE REPORT 11:46  |  Davide C. 30/10/08
      183.   Antisemitism (To Charlotte) 17:52  |  ISB 30/10/08
      184.   Jews and Israel 00:56  |  Claire 31/10/08
      185.   Stop Worrying 23:35  |  Bill 30/11/08
      186.   SARKOZY, O, SARKOZY 01:11  |  indrajaya 12/12/08
      187.   Isreal: A Bully and A Cowrd 21:30  |  adam 23/01/09
      188.   Charlatan Clown Obama 21:06  |  P.K. Darnall 19/04/09
     Haaretz Hot Topics
    Durban II conference
    Air strike in Sudan
    Israel 2009 election results: Voter breakdown
    Israel vs. Hamas
    Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
    More Headlines
    20:50 Lieberman: Ahmadinejad invite to Durban II shows true character of summit
    15:00 Barak to Netanyahu: We must present regional peace plan
    11:39 U.S.: Palestinians need not recognize Israel as Jewish state before talks
    19:02 Obama, Netanyahu, and Zionists Against Occupation
    13:04 What would be the timetable for Israel strike on Iran?
    16:53 Knesset speaker: Umm al-Fahm is an inseparable part of Israel
    18:21 'Swiss leader's offer to meet Ahmadinejad compounds crime with a sin'
    14:57 'Hezbollah surveyed Egyptian towns close to Israeli border'
    13:45 How many Jews would there be if not for the Holocaust?
    22:31 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
    19:57 Jewish groups praise Western states boycotting Durban II
    18:41 Hamas MP wounded after shot by Fatah-allied officer in West Bank
    18:06 Fischer: Israel weathering financial storm, but recession far from over
    16:39 Archaeologists hunt for Cleopatra's tomb in Egypt
    12:38 Descendants of Tel Aviv's first families recreate city's birth
    19:45 Bill Clinton to deliver keynote at opening of Skokie Holocaust Museum
    17:36 Israel Railways changes its story over dismissal of Arab employees
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
    Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
    The Meier on Rothschild Tower
    Masterpiece Residence in the Heart of Tel Aviv
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
    Camp Kimama Israel 2009
    The best place for your children this summer
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
    Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved