Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel must prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon even at the cost of tensions with the Biden administration.
Netanyahu was speaking Tuesday at a ceremony for the new director of Israel’s Mossad spy agency.
The U.S. is holding indirect talks with Iran on a mutual return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal but Netanyahu, contends a U.S. return would take the pressure off the Iranian regime.
Netanyahu has amped up his rhetoric on Iran in recent days, since a ceasefire was reached with Hamas and his rivals moved toward an alternative government that could oust him within a week.
He stressed that he told President Biden Israel would continue its efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining the bomb with or without a nuclear deal, adding that Containment is not an option.
On the other hand, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz attacked Netanyahu for his remarks and claimed he was damaging Israel’s relations with the Biden administration.
Gantz said the Biden administration is a true friend of Israel and Israel will have no better partner than the U.S. and if there are differences they will be solved in direct talks in closed rooms and not through defiant rhetoric that could harm Israel’s security.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials say Gantz is planning to visit Washington later this week and will meet Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Thursday
The talks are expected to focus on emergency U.S. military aid to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome aerial defense system and supply the Israeli Air Force with new munitions.
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