Increased Pressure on Israel over Iran…The Meeting between Obama and Netanyahu in Early March

The Israeli lobby in the United States recruits a third of Congress to tighten sanctions on Iran.

Israeli sources have reported that the head of the U.S. National Security Council, Tom Donilon, was unable to influence the Israeli position on Iran and that additional talks between the two parties will be held in the next two weeks. These talks will culminate in a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama in Washington in early March. The White House confirmed that the meeting will take place on March 5.

The sources added that the Americans are interested in an Israeli pledge that the country will not initiate a military strike against Iran without appropriate coordination with the United States.

The sources further said that the Israeli government not only presented their position– to continue with the military option to force the Iranian leadership to abandon its nuclear weapon program– but also made the Israeli lobby (AIPAC) in the United States exert internal pressure on the U.S. administration. According to the newspaper Yedi’ot Aharonot, AIPAC succeeded in recruiting a third of the members of Congress to sign a petition addressed to President Obama requesting harder sanctions against Tehran and more threats to use the military option. AIPAC added that they wanted the text of the petition to clearly demand the passage of a resolution that announced U.S. military intervention against Iran, but the text was toned down in order to recruit a greater number of Congressmen. The new version of the petition has broad support.

According to the newspaper Haaretz, a visit between Donilon and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak revealed that the defense minister is now one of the Israeli leading hard-liners advocating a military strike on Iran. The Americans also learned that Netanyahu is fluctuating between the hard-liners and those who advocate giving sanctions more time. The U.S., therefore, is first trying to settle Netanyahu’s position and then soften Barak’s position. Accordingly, the defense minister has been invited to visit the U.S. next week while James Clapper, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, visits Israel.

It is noted that the head of Kadima—the opposition party—, Tzipi Livni, who usually differs with Netanyahu on all issues, sides with him on the Iran issue. Yesterday, she stated that “All options should be kept on the table to prevent Iran from possessing nuclear weapons.” However, she added “The prime minister must work in cooperation with other countries of the world and not isolate Israel in the position of individual abuse.” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intelligence Dan Meridor said at a foreign press conference in Jerusalem that Iran now threatens global interests, and the entire world must stand against Iran, if not necessarily with Israel.

Meridor also linked Syria and Iran, saying “Although our policy states that we do not interfere with the internal affairs of other countries, I think that the massacre in Syria is unprecedented. Anyone who has a shred of morality should respond to what is happening. I think if the unholy triple alliance between Iran, Hezbollah, and al-Assad was broken, it would come back to benefit the entire region. It can be said that the Iranian regime stands behind al-Assad and gives him support. It has given him the license to kill, and murder is still continuing. Iran is investing heavily in an attempt to save Assad, both with money and advice, or by sending forces. Apparently, warships that were sent to the region are related to this as well.” He added, “We do not interfere in public, because it would help supporters of al-Assad and Iran.”