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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Obama won't help secure Israel because Israel insists on security?

I'm trying to wrap my head around this TOI report:
The ongoing dispute between the White House and the Prime Minister’s Office over how to tackle Iran’s nuclear program is preventing the two countries from discussing security guarantees for Israel as part of the emerging Iran deal, a source close to Obama Administration told Israel’s Channel 2 Tuesday.

A source in the White House told Israel’s Channel 2 that those tensions could harm the ability of the US to ensure Israel’s security as part of any nuclear deal.

“The dispute with Netanyahu prevents all possibility for discussing security guarantees for Israel as part of the emerging Iran deal,” the source was quoted saying.
Why is that, exactly? Is there such a diplomatic bottleneck that only a single person with limited time can work on both issues?

Once again, this sounds more like how third grade bullies act than world leaders.

Not that I know what "security guarantees" could mean. Does it mean more Patriot batteries? F-35s? Those don't "guarantee" anything if Iran decides to smuggle in a suitcase nuke through a ship to Tel Aviv.

The only guarantee that makes any sense is one where Iran cannot possibly acquire a nuclear weapon, no matter what. And no one is claiming that this is the deal that is being negotiated.

But Iran is being rewarded for treating the US like a trained monkey during years of negotiations - and Israel is being punished for pointing it out.