Netanyahu deputy voices ‘disappointment’ with Obama on Iran
Israel's Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya’alon says ‘election-year considerations’ behind U.S. President’s caution over tough Iran sanctions.
By Reuters Tags: Iran Iran nuclear Benjamin Netanyahu Barack ObamaA senior Israeli official voiced disappointment in the Obama administration on Sunday, saying "election-year considerations" lay behind its caution over tough Iran sanctions sought by U.S. legislators.
While Washington has been talking tougher about Iran's nuclear work and threat to block oil export routes out of the Gulf if hit with harsher sanctions, new U.S. measures adopted on Dec. 31 gave President Barak Obama leeway on the scope of penalties on the Iranian central bank and oil exports.
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Vice Prime Minister and Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon at the Herzliya Conference on Feb. 8, 2011. |
| Photo by: Dudu Bakar |
Moshe Ya’alon, Israel's vice prime minister, contrasted the administration's posture to that of France and Britain, which he said "are taking a very firm stand and understand sanctions must be imposed immediately".
"In the United States, the Senate passed a resolution, by a majority of 100-to-one, to impose these sanctions, and in the U.S. administration there is hesitation for fear of oil prices rising this year, out of election-year considerations," Ya’alon told Israel Radio."In that regard, this is certainly a disappointment, for now."
The Democratic president says he is determined to deny Tehran -- which insists its nuclear program is for peaceful needs only -- the means to develop an atom bomb. His aides cast their sanctions strategy as a bid to work collaboratively with foreign powers and win over states that import Iranian oil without triggering price-boosting shocks to energy markets.
The remarks by Ya’alon, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, appeared to jar with praise centrist Defense Minister Ehud Barak offered last month for what he described as Obama's resolve against Iran.
Running for re-election in the face of Republicans who hold sway over big pro-Israel constituencies, Obama has sought to burnish his credentials as a friend of the Jewish state despite having frosty relations with Netanyahu.
In a phone conversation with the prime minister on Thursday, Obama "reiterated his unshakable commitment to Israel's security," the White House said. Both sides said the leaders' discussion dealt with Iran and Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.
Reputed to have the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal, Israel sees the makings of a mortal threat in Iran's uranium enrichment and missile projects, and has threatened to resort to force if it deems diplomatic isolation of its foe a dead end.
The prospect of Israel worsening regional instability with a unilateral strike has stirred worry in war-weary Washington.
Obama's top military adviser, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin Dempsey, was due to make his first visit to Israel on Thursday.
Israeli media predicted Dempsey would seek to persuade his hosts not to "surprise" the United States on Iran. The U.S. embassy had no immediate information about the visit's agenda.
Ya’alon, himself a former top armed forces commander, said Israel should not "leap forward" to attack Iran. "But Israel has to be ready to defend itself," he said. "Let's hope we do not arrive at that moment."
Netanyahu sounded sanguine last week about the efficacy of big-power pressure on Iran, telling an Australian newspaper: "For the first time I see Iran wobble ... under the sanctions that have been adopted and especially under the threat of strong sanctions on their central bank."
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A war with Iran would not be a seven day war. It would not be the two weeks of the Gaza op. It would not be the sixty days of the 2006 war. It would last a very long time and would exppose not only soft Israeli targets around the world, it would also target American Jews, combining two enemy demographics into one. In America there is no interest in a war with Iran excep from right wing hawks who are ready to go to war with anyone just for the love of war.
Obama has saved Israel in the UN twice. The ungratefulness of israel is breathtaking
He was elected to be president of the United States, not protector of Israel. As a US citizen, I wish to assure the good people of Israel that I am equally concerned about your fears of Iran as you are about the price we pay here for gasoline, or the treasure we spend on foreign wars. Here's a novel concept...you take care of YOUR problems, and we'll take care of OURS. And by taking care of your problems, I don't mean goading Iran into an act of war with your current assassination strategy, hoping that another country will come to your defense. You have the military and the money to prosecute your own wars. And if you don't, then perhaps your foreign policy should take that consideration into account.
Yes Keith, Obama is doing his job. Constant campaigning. Iran is everyone's problem, especially when they develop their nuclear weapon. As I recall Israel did the job of taking care of "YOUR problems", when they bombed the Osirak Nuclear facility in Iraq and later another one in Syria. They obviously took care of all of our problems.
Obama is a complete disappointment for Israel. For me, there will be no re-election for Democratic Party because it will be disaster for Israel. Obama blames Israel in everything. Obama's promise for Israel's security is an old told story - Rubbish story. Obama do not like Israel, he is just pretending to be friend of Israel. Has Obama visited Israel before? of course, NO. So, why? because he does not love Israel. Israel, becareful, prepare for the worst, least, you are out of this very earth. May God protect Israel, amen.
Just when you have a nice liddle fight all lined-up sumbuddy gets cold feet! It's just a good think the tickets hadn't gone on sale yet. Maybe you're better off just doing the promotion all by yourself. If you gedda big hit, everybody will want in on the action. But if it's a flop .... hey, who's the pessimist? Nu?
How can anyone be "disappointed" for lack of help from Obama after insulting him publicly?
is what the article should have said. The US has no inten tion of imposing tough sanctions, which would raise oil prices, which might cost Obama the elections. So any words of suport or encouragement from Obama to Netanyahu are hypocritical.
Sanctions should be put on Israel.! AS for election year consideration rhettoric Israel has perfected that Machavelian game for years be the target Obama or ANY legislater that steps out of line and off okayed rhettorical talking points!
world wont accept israeli warmongering anymore.
Since when an Israeli governement member complain againstt a US President.. It is time to leave Israel alone and stop all US taxpayers' aids. The US created a monster that refuses to obey its master.
its obvious that israel push the world to another war.
Trust the us...trust europe...?? Trust.....Obama????? Trust yourselves....don´t rely on them. That is naive and dangerous. History has proven this. History repeats itself. Israel has the capabilities of giving Iran a serious blow in such as way that they will lose their motivation to do anything back.....BUT DON`T TRUST USA OR EUROPE. YOU CANT
Richard, do you have more friends? tell!
Starting a war is all to easy. What happens after that is the hard part. Relying on the US to step in does not seem clever to the rest of the world
It's that arrogance combined with selfishness that seems to come so easily to them.
Is the electorate in the west have warned their politicians that anymore wars in the Middle East will be electoral suicide. And it is not just the United States, the same situation occurs in France and Germany, which makes it highly unlikely that there will be agreement in NATO (which there has to be) for a military campaign by NATO agains Iran on behalf of maintaining Israel's nuclear hedgemony in the middle east.
Spare us. If it were not for these considerations the Jew would have already scampered back to where it belongs – behind 1967 internationally recognized borders. It still will once the ICC gets involved but a real shame the inevitable had to be delayed a year or so.
but i have a feeling usa will soon lose its patience with the irrational, warmongering iranian regime, and consign it to the scrapheap of history's failed dictatorships
has kept a very low profile about these sanctions. As they realise the British electorate will not countenance any military action against Iran on Israel's behalf, without there being either a nuclear disarmament by Israel of it's nuclear weapons. Or the the establishment of a viable Palestinian State
Everyone's dissapponted in Obama... So glad I never gave him the 2.00 for his bumper sticker!!!
In apparent response to Yaalon's statements, Obama, in a fit of pique and to show Bibi who's boss, has reportedly cancelled the missile exercise that was scheduled to soon be held. I
Just let American taxpayers cut the funding to israel! So they will learn to stay quiet
Israel provides tens of thousands of tax paying jobs in USA! Israeli companies based in USA provide American citizens with good tax paying jobs. Why are the truths not spoken? Israel is the THE light. Wake up. Israel is liberty. Those who persecute Israel are persecuting you. Wake up.
You really think that 3Bil that ALL goes to US based manufacturing will do anything to a 132BIL economy. Stop with this nonsense. Eliminate the 3BIL and American will lose thousands of jobs. You and people like who are filled with pure hatred, need to learn the facts