Netanyahu: Democrats wrong to pledge rejoining Iran deal
Kobi Gideon (GPO)
On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it is “wrong” and a “mistake” for the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates to pledge that they would rejoin the 2015 nuclear deal, the JCPOA, if elected.
At the first of the two-night 2020 Democratic primary debates last night in Miami, Florida, nine of the ten candidates on stage vowed to re-enter the JCPOA. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) was the only candidate to express his opposition. to unilaterally rejoin the deal.
“I think that any objective look at the consequences of doing that would come to the conclusion that it would actually hurt the interests of the United States and the region and so on,” Netanyahu said in conversation with Israel Hayom editor-in-chief Boz Bismuth at the Israel Hayom conference, held at the Davidson Center in Jerusalem’s Old City. “To go back to the JCPOA means letting Iran get nuclear weapons.”
Boaz Bismuth: They had a debate yesterday in Florida and nine out of the ten candidates, what did they say? They want to go back to the deal. That worries you—what’s happening in America, but on the other side, of the Democratic Party?
Netanyahu: “Well, it’s wrong. I think that any objective look at the consequences of doing that would come to the conclusion that it would actually hurt the interests of the United States and the region and so on. And look at the region. I will say, when, you know, the Arabs and Israelis agree on something, you may as well pay attention. Maybe we know something about this region, and we do. Iran is the single greatest threat to world peace… and it should not be allowed to get nuclear weapons. To go back to the JCPA means letting Iran get nuclear weapons.”
“President Trump has said he will not let Iran get nuclear weapons. I, as the prime minister of Israel, tell you: I will not allow Iran to get nuclear weapons. It’s a mistake to go back to the JCPOA.”