Obama Phones Israel's Netanyahu Following Iran Nuclear Deal

[onehandle]

Source: Huffington Post

President Barack Obama phoned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, pledging future consultations with the U.S. ally regarding the nuclear deal made between Iran and six major powers that Israel opposes on Saturday.

The White House announced the call while Obama was aboard Air Force One en route to Seattle for a fundraising event. Netanyahu, who had warned of the deal's insufficiency in the weeks leading up to the agreement, told his cabinet the deal was a "historic mistake."

In a readout of the phone call, the White House said the president and prime minister reiterated their commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

"The President underscored that the United States will remain firm in our commitment to Israel, which has good reason to be skeptical about Iran’s intentions," the White House wrote.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/24/obama-netanyahu-iran_n_4334051.html

[iandhr]

1. I have had a theory for a while...

... that Bibi's saber rattling might be a good cop bad cop thing Netanyahu has worked out with the President.

[davidpdx]

2. I don't think it is

I think Netanyahu truly wants the talks to fail and will do anything he can to undermine them. My theory is that once countries start acting more peaceful, then pressure will be put on Israel finally work out their problems with the Palestinians. The longer they can put that off, the longer they can continue to build settlements and make a deal impossible.

[jaysunb]

3. +1 n/t

[QuestForSense]

5. There is a possibility that he wants the talks to fail.

Appointing Avigdor Lieberman as Israeli Foreign Minister may speak to this scenario.

[DallasNE]

8. I'm Completely In Your Camp Here

If relative stability breaks out in the Middle-East then all of the focus will shift to Israel and its settlement policy and pressure to become part of the solution rather than part of the problem. And that couldn't come too soon.

[PragmaticLiberal]

4. It's possible but based off Bibi's track record I doubt it.

[iandhr]

6. Your probably right...

... but since we are not privy to what Obama says to Bibi on the phone there is no way it can be proven or disproven

[PragmaticLiberal]

7. Your theory is plausible. Very plausible actually.

The whole "Good cop, bad cop" act.

[Ash_F]

10. Netanyahu leads a reactionary right wing nationalistic party

That type of politics needs some kind of perceived existential threat to stir up fear and anger to motivate people, because negative emotions are more effective at doing so. Whether that perception is justified does not enter into consideration. They build the perception, then try to justify it.

That said, he needs Iran to be uncooperative with the UN in order to stay in power and prevent Israel from moving to the center. He is not cooperating with Obama in any way and basically endorsed Romney in the last election because he is a fellow right winger.

[SoapBox]

9. I just hope the President told him to

take a pill and STFU.

[davidpdx]

11. Me too