Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday lambasted the government for its “silence” vis-à-vis the emerging nuclear deal with Iran, saying its actions were “endangering Israel’s future.”
Speaking during a Likud faction meeting, Netanyahu said that “the Bennett-Gantz-Lapid government shows only weakness, weakness and more weakness. They have capitulated to the U.S. administration … agreeing to a policy of zero surprises—meaning that Israel will not act against the Iranian nuclear program without first coordinating it with the Americans, who will undoubtedly oppose such action and may even jeopardize things by leaking [the information].”
Moreover, he said, Israel’s silence makes it harder for “our friends in the United States” to oppose the deal.
“If they don’t see or hear Israel oppose it, why should they? Why should they try to repeal it later on? It was our persistent objection that helped the U.S. exit the previous agreement. The government’s silence undermines the legitimization for any future Israeli action against Iran’s nuclear facilities,” he said.
This article first appeared in Israel Hayom.