Israeli Response to Iran Nuclear Deal Could Have Broader Implications

It took President Obama two days to call Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel after his March 17 electoral victory, and any congratulations were couched in an excoriation of Mr. Netanyahu’s hawkish and divisive campaign rhetoric.

It took Mr. Obama about two hours to call Mr. Netanyahu after Thursday’s announcement of a framework agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear program, and this time it was the Israeli leader who lectured the American that the emerging deal “would threaten the survival” of his state. The White House account of the call was conciliatory: The president promised to increase security consultations and cooperation with Israel to “remain vigilant in countering Iran’s threats.”

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Opponents of the deal in Israel and the United States have lately been emphasizing what they view as Iran’s expansionary meddling in Iraq, Syria and Yemen as another reason not to trust the Iranians. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based policy institute that has been critical of the emerging nuclear deal, said Friday that it could “further supercharge Iranian aggression in the region” and encourage Iran’s Sunni Arab adversaries to develop nuclear capabilities.

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