Netanyahu Heads to Europe With Iran on Agenda

YERUSHALAYIM (AP) —
netanyahu iran
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu displaying some of the secret Iranian nuclear documents obtained by Israel, at a press conference at the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, last month. (Reuters/ Amir Cohen)

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is heading to Europe in a bid to rally support from key allies for amending the international nuclear deal with Iran and for pushing Iranian forces out of neighboring Syria.

Netanyahu is set to meet with leaders from Germany, France and Britain, beginning with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday.

Ahead of his departure, Netanyahu said Monday that archenemy Iran would top his agenda and voiced optimism for the visit. Israel has been a leading critic of the nuclear deal, and more recently, has said it will not allow Iran to establish a permanent military presence in Syria.

“I will meet there with three leaders and will discuss two subjects: Iran and Iran,” he said, adding he wanted pressure on Iran’s nuclear program to be “intensified.”

“It could be that on this matter there isn’t a consensus right now, but with time, in my opinion, that understanding will be reached.”

Both the U.S. and Israel hope Trump’s withdrawal can lead all sides into addressing what they say are the deal’s shortcomings — including “sunset” provisions that end restrictions on Iranian nuclear activities, such as enriching uranium, as well as permitting Iran to continue to develop long-range missiles.

Netanyahu says that as the deal expires over the next decade or so, Iran will emerge with the ability to produce a nuclear bomb in a very short time.

In addition to the U.S., the nuclear deal was negotiated by Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China. The remaining members have said they remain committed to the deal. Iran for now also is honoring the agreement, though some top officials have suggested it resume its enrichment activities.

Oded Eran, a former Israeli ambassador to the EU, said Netanyahu is unlikely to change the minds of his counterparts on the necessity for the current agreement.

But he said he may sway them on certain details not included in the deal, such as Iran’s missile development and the expiration of restrictions on nuclear activity.

“There’s no secret that the prime minister wants to completely change the agreement and replace it with an agreement that covers the issues that are missing,” said Eran, senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University. “I don’t think that he will change the policy, but he will get maybe a commitment to work on the missing points.”

While Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, Israel recently released tens of thousands of seized Iranian nuclear documents that Netanyahu said prove Iran pursued a nuclear bomb in the past. He is likely to discuss this information with the other leaders.

Eran said Netanyahu may make more progress on his other demand — expelling Iranian forces from Syria.

Netanyahu has long identified Iran as Israel’s greatest threat, pointing to its nuclear program, calls for Israel’s destruction and support of anti-Israel militant groups.

Israel fears that as the Syrian civil war winds down, Iran, whose forces and Shiite proxies have backed President Bashar Assad, will turn its focus to Israel.

Eran said he believes the European leaders are receptive to Israeli concerns.

“I think he will reach an understanding on the question of Iran’s deployment in Syria and other activities of Iran in the region,” he said.

Russian officials have signaled in recent days that there may soon be an agreement for Iran to move its forces away from Israel’s border, but there has been no confirmation of a deal.

Netanyahu’s first stop will be in Germany. Merkel has been a critic of Netanyahu’s, objecting to Israeli settlement policies. Last year, Netanyahu also snubbed Germany’s foreign minister, Sigmar Gabriel, after he met with a non-governmental organization critical of Israel’s policies. The two met earlier this year.

In France, Netanyahu and Macron will attend a ceremony celebrating Israel’s 70th anniversary. He then heads to Britain to meet with Prime Minister Theresa May.

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