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Obama: Nuclear deal can't hinge on Iran's Israel stance

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President Barack Obama says it would be “a fundamental misjudgment” to condition a nuclear deal with Iran on the country changing its hostile stance toward Israel.

Absolutely correct. Now that Netanyahu has seen the details of the deal, and how specific it is, he is moving the goalpost and trying to link it to other issues, like recognition of Israel, support for Hezbollah, etc. This was never intended to be an "all-encompassing" agreement. The sanctions were aimed at one goal -- deterring Iran from seeking a nuclear weapon -- not at all this other stuff Netanyahu would like to throw in at the last minute. Besides, Obama cannot control Iran's view of Isreal, especially when Netanyahu keeps OK'ing more and more settlements, and keeps the Palestinians as prisoners in their own territory and strangles them economically. This is gamesmanship of the highest order by Netanyahu and he knows it. It is high time he showed the Office of The President the respect it deserves, especially since we provide Israel over $ 8.5 million in just military aid every day. And Netanyahu puts the U.S./Obama in the middle of things when he decides to invade Gaza, like he did a few months back.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

The sanctions were aimed at one goal -- deterring Iran from seeking a nuclear weapon --

Which it will not not do.

Netanyahu keeps OK'ing more and more settlements, and keeps the Palestinians as prisoners in their own territory and strangles them economically.

So let me get this, what Iran is doing and that they WILL at some point get a bomb, because everyone knows, EVERYONE, even Obama and Kerry know that Iran will never stop their quest for obtaining a bomb, so the admin. basically threw their hands up and made whatever deal they could since Iran is going to go ahead with building the bomb anyway instead of imposing harsher sanctions, that sits well with you, but you go nuts when Israel builds settlements??? Oh, dear lord.....

This is gamesmanship of the highest order by Netanyahu and he knows it. It is high time he showed the Office of The President the respect it deserves,

Why? When the president is putting the entire Jewish population in Jeopardy as well as the Sunnis, they don't trust him, every poll reflects that and now Obama is an expert all of a sudden in that region and all of them just don't have a clue?

especially since we provide Israel over $ 8.5 million in just military aid every day.

And without Israel, we probably could never get even HALF of the intel we get in that region without their help, we'd be dead in the water.

And Netanyahu puts the U.S./Obama in the middle of things when he decides to invade Gaza, like he did a few months back.

Wow, dude! Let me ask you a question, with the money and the aid the Palestinians get, why is it none of it EVER gets to the people, Gaza could have been built and remodeled 10 times over with the money that they have been getting for years, but Hamas uses that money to fund and pay for buying weapons and build rockets you forgot to leave that part out as well and you think the Israelis are just going to take it? Not going to happen. What scares me is that if Israel losses trust in America (which would be a first) and loses the trust of the Sunnis, both will make their own decisions on how to deal with Iran and neither side will allow their countries to be intimidated by a bunch of Mullahs and that also includes Egypt.

-10 ( +4 / -14 )

Recognizing Israel's right to exist is nothing more than that; simply a statement stating they no longer intend to destroy it. This is not too much to ask. Obama is less than truthful about how he feels about Israel.

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

Considering you have the right demanding that Israel be given billions of dollars every year, while freaking out about spending any money whatsoever on taking care of its own people with health insurance, Obama is right to be frustrated with the whole Israel situation. It's a pretty messed up set of priorities.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Gaza could have been built and remodeled 10 times over with the money that they have been getting for years

And it usually is, because Israel keeps bombing it to dust. Or do you conveniently forget to look at the devastation Israeli bombs bring on Gazan families? It's 1000s of times worse than anything Hamas rockets do to Israel, for sure.

So let me get this, what Iran is doing and that they WILL at some point get a bomb, because everyone knows, EVERYONE, even Obama and Kerry know that Iran will never stop their quest for obtaining a bomb

Everyone in the right-wing echo chamber, that is. You folks were saying this same junk in the 1980s about Iraq's supposed "nuclear program" as well, and that was conclusively proven to be for research only, just as Iraq always said.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Considering you have the right demanding that Israel be given billions of dollars every year, while freaking out about spending any money whatsoever on taking care of its own people with health insurance,

Problem is and sadly, many people in the world, including the US do not have a clue as to understanding the complexity of the Middle East and all of its problems, let alone the Israeli and Palestinian conflict, because if they did, they would understand why Israel does what it does in order to protect itself and as I said, once before, if the Palestinians recognize the Jewish state, leave it alone, they could get what they want, even their own state, which I do think they should have, but under this terrorist leadership, it will never happen.

Obama is right to be frustrated with the whole Israel situation. It's a pretty messed up set of priorities.

Well, he was the one that put everyone in this situation, he should be upset. The only that is smiling like the cat from Alice in Wonderland are the Iranians, thinking how they suckered the whole and the Obama admin.

And it usually is, because Israel keeps bombing it to dust. Or do you conveniently forget to look at the devastation Israeli bombs bring on Gazan families? It's 1000s of times worse than anything Hamas rockets do to Israel, for sure.

So that means it is ok to hurl Qassam rockets at Israel and to terrorize and call for its destruction and you think that tiny country, the one and only Jewish nation in the entire world will just allow the threats of these radicals to push them to leave or to leave themselves wide open to attacks and the destruction of their country. Again, NOT going to happen. Netanyahu is NOT Obama and the man will do everything in his power to keep his country safe as a real leader should. Obama could and should learn from him, but that's like asking a Tiger to change its stripes.

Everyone in the right-wing echo chamber, that is. You folks were saying this same junk in the 1980s about Iraq's supposed "nuclear program" as well, and that was conclusively proven to be for research only, just as Iraq always said.

But at the same time, Saddam was a threat and he did brutalize and gassed his own people and he did terrorize, tortured the Shia and you think they were going to play nice with the Sunnis, or how about the Kurds. But none of the liberals said a word about that.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

Sorry Obama, in two years you will be gone, and everyone knows it. You have gotten little respect from other world powers over the last 6 years, you will get even less from now until you are finally out of the White House. Iran will do as it pleases, as will Israel. They both know that you have no taste for conflict, nor the courage to act with strength. Any agreement they make with you is not worth the paper it is written on, as they know that you would never, and with only two years remaining in office, could never enforce any agreement.

History will forget you, if you are lucky, the other world powers are already forgetting you.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

March 31st 2015 - Houston News: "Just last weekend, at a rally in the northern part of the country, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was interrupted by the chant as he was denouncing American “lies” and “arrogance.” He smiled and responded, “Of course, yes, death to America, because America is the original source of this pressure.”

March 23rd 2015 - NY Post: Iran’s supreme leader rallied his country to endorse the ongoing nuclear negotiations with the US — while at the same time shouting, “Death to America!” along with the unruly crowd.

Pressed by CNN’s Jim Acosta: “And you feel like you can negotiate in good faith with a Supreme Leader who is calling for ‘Death to America’?”

Earnest replies: “Jim, what we have seen is — we have seen the Iranians sit down at the negotiating table and demonstrate a willingness to have constructive conversations.”

Iran Militia Chief Again Vows To Destroy Israel–Says Destruction Is Non-Negotiable. The religion of peace strikes again, this time from the Islamic theocracy of Iran. Yes, the same Iran that President Obama is attempting to appease with the pathway of eventually developing a nuclear weapons capability.

Iran will never change its view of Israel....nor its view of America. To think Iran will not attempt to build a Nuclear bomb is foolish.

I hope many people are correct and that this was a good deal....I really hope they are right because if you're wrong.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

John Constantine. Good post, thanks. Bet your bottom dollar they will certainly try. I mean here is a regime which won't agree to snap inspections while blabbing out it is within their right to enrich uranium. Obama got played.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Wow, dude! Let me ask you a question, with the money and the aid the Palestinians get, why is it none of it EVER gets to the people, Gaza could have been built and remodeled 10 times over with the money that they have been getting for years, but Hamas uses that money to fund and pay for buying weapons and build rockets you forgot to leave that part out as well and you think the Israelis are just going to take it? Not going to happen. What scares me is that if Israel losses trust in America (which would be a first) and loses the trust of the Sunnis, both will make their own decisions on how to deal with Iran and neither side will allow their countries to be intimidated by a bunch of Mullahs and that also includes Egypt

Wow, dude, masterful job, as usual, of throwing out a lot of rhetoric, but no specifics, just like Netanyahu. The plain fact is that the situation in Gaza is only the way it is because Israel refused to make peace with the Palestinian Authority headed up by Arafat. So, the radicals, lead by Hamas took over, and now, Israel is paying the price. Which should make you stop and wonder, if with everything Netanyahu has done to try to strangle Hamas in the Gaza, without success, as you well know, what makes you think Obama should continue the same strategy with Iran? Why would he follow Netanyahu's failed strategy? Especially since he now has the majority of the population in Iran behind the deal? You use sanctions to get them to the negotiating table, not to try to make them change. That is just lunacy.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

...blabbing out it is within their right to enrich uranium.

Which it is. Study the NPT a tad for legal technicalities. I do understand that the right wing must both vent and hyperventilate because cognitive dissonance is never an easy thing, so go ahead and do it. Remember how the ACA was going to destroy America, but that didn't happen - yet many on the right have still come to terms with its success? How many GOP presidential candidates do you think will actually run on abolishing the ACA "root and branch" in 2017?

Well, as long as the Congress doesn't screw things up, the same may likely happen with an agreement with Iran, assuming one is successfully concluded in June. The cocksure promises current GOP presumed candidates are making now will look foolish and dangerous come next election.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I dig how set that up. Like only you on this news site know the truth. LOL Then you go and write a statement like this

if the Palestinians recognize the Jewish state, leave it alone

Maybe Marcus Licinius Crassus should have tried the same thing with Spartacus.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Which it is (so you're saying). Okay.

No wonder Netanyahu & Isreal are causing such a fuss. For what other reason might the Mullahs enrich uranium? Lest they vow to "anihilate" Isreal as they've stated in the past. Alarming.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

They both know that you have no taste for conflict, nor the courage to act with strength.

Any yahoo can attack when they have a ridiculously strong army at their back. Just look at the Bushs. It takes real courage and strength to find better solutions for conflict.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Wow, dude, masterful job, as usual, of throwing out a lot of rhetoric, but no specifics, just like Netanyahu.

Scroll up, the specifics are there.

The plain fact is that the situation in Gaza is only the way it is because Israel refused to make peace with the Palestinian Authority headed up by Arafat.

And rightfully so. Don't blame them one bit.

So, the radicals, lead by Hamas took over, and now, Israel is paying the price.

Yes, but the Palestinians are paying a bigger price and will continue and there situation will worsen, so the ball is in their court what they want to do, but if they want to go down that route with Israel, good luck to them. So it depends on what the democratically elected Hamas wants to do, make peace or take their people over the cliff, the choice is theirs.

Which should make you stop and wonder, if with everything Netanyahu has done to try to strangle Hamas in the Gaza, without success, as you well know, what makes you think Obama should continue the same strategy with Iran?

If Israel wanted, they could turn Gaza into a BBQ pit, mildly putting it.

Why would he follow Netanyahu's failed strategy?

Obama doesn't listen to ANYONE, not even he's advisors that know things and are experts on issues before he was born. Obama THINKS he knows everything better than everyone else, that is the main root of this guys problems and why we are in the mess we're in!

Especially since he now has the majority of the population in Iran behind the deal?

As if the people have a say or understand about the internal and integral workings of the deal and how Iran is. The people don't conduct foreign policy, it's the president, not to mention, the people in the US do not live next to Iran, so they don't have to deal further with the issue. Keep that in mind. Makes a huge difference, they weren't too happy when Cuba had missiles pointed them, go figure.

You use sanctions to get them to the negotiating table, not to try to make them change. That is just lunacy.

Yes, and you use it to bring them to their news, sanctions are designed for a purpose: to HURT! Also, when you have a country that is threatening its neighbors and committing turmoil in the region and you don't want a broader conflict and you also know that the country is being controlled by religious fanatics, you do everything in your power to block and bring that country to its knees and you get concessions and if that doesn't work, impose more sanctions, Iran admitted they were hurting and the more it hurts, the less aggressive and danger they pose, but now, this idiot has just opened up Pandora's box and probably started an arms race in the ME. Because the Saudis are not going to accept this and now they feel we betrayed them as does Israel and you think Iran is our new friend??? On the contrary, they got what they wanted, laughing their asses off that they got the better of this weak president and Kerry, now we'll be lucky in the future if we have ANY friends in that region, which is vital, but why should Obama care, he's out of here soon anyway and I will definitely be the happier on that shiny day.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Obama is right to be frustrated with the whole Israel situation. It's a pretty messed up set of priorities.

Well, he was the one that put everyone in this situation, he should be upset.

Obama put everyone in the position of giving Israel billions of dollars yearly. Wow. We now have official proof that you are willing to blame anything and everything on Obama, even if it requires ignoring reality to do so.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

It takes real courage and strength to find better solutions for conflict.

I didn't agree with Bush's war, and, probably unlike you, I was one of those deployed to fight in it.

What solutions has Obama offered? There have been no solutions, and therefore no courage. Assad "crossed the red line", Obama did nothing about it. The US ambassador to Libya is murdered, Obama did nothing about it. Isis is killing thousands, and nothing other than occasional airstrikes, most of which are ineffective, have been authorised. Fundamentalism is spreading across Africa, civil war has broken out in Yemen. Tourists are killed in Tunisia, students are murdered in Kenya. Where are Obama's solutions? Where is his courage?

In truth, Obama has neither. Prior to coming to Washington, Obama had never worked outside university, so it is no surprise he knows nothing about business or economics. He had never served a day in the military, so he obviously knew nothing about military strategy, or hands-on leadership. Prior to 2008, he had never even possessed a US passport, so of course he had no diplomatic experience. Exactly how is a career academic with no real-world experience in any discipline going to be able to find solutions to even fundamental problems? Let alone, large-scale problems which influence the world?

In the next election, we had better not elect another inexperienced and incompetent community organiser into an office which requires a person of great experience, influence, and decisiveness. Otherwise we end up with a world where economies are crumbling, and where religious fundamentalism and anarchy is spreading. The only "change" we have gotten so far is change for the worse.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Obama is doing the right thing by keeping his involvement in the ME to a minimum, and mostly staying out of Africa. I personally feel he's already too involved. He should be staying out altogether. America is not the world police. Doing so does no one any good, particularly the Americans.

If the regions want help from the world, they need to go to the UN, not America.

Obama is showing strength by not being a yahoo.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Given the abysmal results of Obama's interventions in Libya and Yemen and premature withdrawal from Iraq, some scepicism towards his optimistic predictions of peace and security seems exceptionally reasonable.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

But at the same time, Saddam was a threat and he did brutalize and gassed his own people and he did terrorize, tortured the Shia and you think they were going to play nice with the Sunnis, or how about the Kurds.

What the heck does that have to do with the nuclear program? Your buddies Bush/Reagan never said a peep to Saddam about that at the time, so don't act all outraged now.

But none of the liberals said a word about that.

None of the GOP said anything about that. FTFY. Heck, nobody in the GOP complained when the USS Stark was bombed by Iraq in 1987 killing dozens of Americans. Don't try to claim some moral superiority on Iraq 30 years after the fact, because history is pretty darn unforgiving on that front.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Can't understand the hate to Israel by some people here, its obvious that Iran has one objective with a nuke and Israel is on the receiving end, why wouldn't they want a nuclear free Iran. Surely you can't negotiate a deal and neglect the fact that Iran wants to exterminate Israel.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Scooby,

The whole point of this is to make sure Iran doesn't get the bomb for at least 10 years. It will test the veracity of their claims to not want to be nuclear armed.

The Netanyahu plan of scuppering this historic deal with help from the GOP Asylum means further isolation and perhaps a nuclear armed Iran in less than 12 months.

Negotiation and verification are the only way forward. Anything else at this point is insanity.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"Iran.. its hostile stance toward Israel"

What's up with that, anyway?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Obama is doing the right thing by keeping his involvement in the ME to a minimum, and mostly staying out of Africa.

If only he could do the same in America.

I personally feel he's already too involved. He should be staying out altogether. America is not the world police. Doing so does no one any good, particularly the Americans.

Actually, America is the world police like it or not, personally, I don't like it, but if anything happens as we have seen over the last 6 years, if America doesn't lead (meaning having a strong leader, NOT a weak one like the one we have now) you see how things fall apart and Europe will not take the lead and to keep countries at least in line like Russia, China and North Korea and not have a destabilized ME, you need the US, now does that mean fight wars before you libs start choking, look at all these events from Russia invading Crimea to the overthrow of Gaddafi and Mubarak, the formation of ISIS, there is an argument to be made that the less involved the US is, the more things fall apart, Obama tried it and look at the results and don't come at me with war nonsense, that argument won't work, NO ONE wants a war, if it can be avoided, but sometimes you do need war to keep the peace. And people always respect strength and Obama doesn't ooze it at all, that is just a fact, every world leader knows this, both friend and foe.

If the regions want help from the world, they need to go to the UN, not America.

What? Please! The UN is a useless organization that is being funded since we are by far the biggest financial supporter since 1945, I do personally think we have a lot to say. 27% of the peacekeeping budget and over 22% of the regular budget and for NATO we the tax payer pay one-fifth and one-quarter of NATO's budget in 2010 it was $700 million! Yes, when it comes to humanitarian causes, they are good, but when it comes to world conflict or even terrorism, they can't even agree on that. Personally, I will be happy when Donald Trump turns that place into lavish Condominiums would suit the area much better.

Obama is showing strength by not being a yahoo.

Only 581 more days before the celebration begins.

What the heck does that have to do with the nuclear program? Your buddies Bush/Reagan never said a peep to Saddam about that at the time, so don't act all outraged now.

You were the one that brought up the Israel so called atrocity, if you want to call it that and you didn't even have a problem with Saddam committing them against his own people subjected them to torture and death, but let's gloss over that and forget that Israel has the absolute right to exist and use any necessary force to protect its people from the radical Islamists that want to destroy it.

Erm, yes, how awful that they secured a deal when they could have applied harsher sanctions instead.

Thank God nothing is finalized yet, but even if it does, it'll be good for 581 days and then we are back at square one again.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Obama: Nuclear deal can't hinge on Iran's Israel stance

Ironic that most of the comments on this thread have been about Iran's Israel stance. Sanction relief here is targeted at their nuclear program - that, and nothing else.

Also, just like the right's reaction to the ACA, they have displayed nothing but much wailing and doomsday talk along with pie-in-the-sky, rainbow-from-unicorn-butt if things were only - somehow! - different, but absolutely nothing concrete. The ACA and the potential Iran agreement have only one thing in common: they've both illuminated the absolute bankruptcy of GOP ideas.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Obama: Nuclear deal can't hinge on Iran's Israel stance

Ironic that most of the comments on this thread have been about Iran's Israel stance. Sanction relief here is targeted at their nuclear program - that, and nothing else.

Also, just like the right's reaction to the ACA, they have displayed nothing but much wailing and doomsday talk along with pie-in-the-sky, rainbow-from-unicorn-butt if things were only - somehow! - different, but absolutely nothing concrete. The ACA and the potential Iran agreement have only one thing in common: they've both illuminated the absolute bankruptcy of GOP ideas.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Well assuming a Republican takes the White House, and then takes steps to overturn that agreement. We'll see.

Doesn't matter who occupies the oval office, once the new president moves in, that deal is nullified and this one in particular because it was never authorized by congress, so essentially, it will be seen as more of a verbal agreement and nothing etched in stone.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

In an interview Monday with NPR News, Obama said that would be saying there’s no deal unless the Iranian government completely changes its nature.

Well,... yeah.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The clownish simplicity of making Israel the tailor of American policy and dictator of the seven nation accord with Iran is laughable.

Strange how some of the more ardent comments against changing the American relationship with Iran demand subservience to Israel's demands.

Quick to condemn and dismissive of any progress, these comments suggest Americans should always ask Israel what Americans should do with their tax dollars. (So far, US aid to Israel at Three Billion a year isn't enough for the GOP-Tea?)

If Israel is unhappy, these commenters would have the Knesset replace the bicameral House of Representatives and Senate, and for good measure, the Office of the President of The United States should have a desk for King Bibi.

Maybe that will be part of the GOP-Tea "Israel First" campaign strategy to take the White House.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

The clownish simplicity of making Israel the tailor of American policy and dictator of the seven nation accord with Iran is laughable.

Maybe because we have been almost since the beginning, Israel's closest ally, until his majesty mucked it up, but thankfully things will get back to normal in about 581 days.

Strange how some of the more ardent comments against changing the American relationship with Iran demand subservience to Israel's demands.

Why would anyone in their right mental capacity make a deal with a country that is the largest sponsor of terrorism and that is on a high to make nuclear weapons, threatens our allies and then behind our backs threatens to kill us. Only a complete idiot would make that kind of deal....oh, wait....

Quick to condemn and dismissive of any progress, these comments suggest Americans should always ask Israel what Americans should do with their tax dollars. (So far, US aid to Israel at Three Billion a year isn't enough for the GOP-Tea?)

No, but Israel lives with terrorism and no country in the world knows terrorism better than the Israelis and when they tell us something, there is usually a good, very good reason to listen to them or at least heed their advice.

If Israel is unhappy, these commenters would have the Knesset replace the bicameral House of Representatives and Senate, and for good measure, the Office of the President of The United States should have a desk for King Bibi.

At least the man has guts and loves his country.

Maybe that will be part of the GOP-Tea "Israel First" campaign strategy to take the White House.

No, but one is, we will never again leave our allies and throw them under the bus to make deals with terrorists. That should be a definite pledge for the next president.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Beautiful prose, kcjapan. I would like to see more of such thoughtful writing on these JT threads.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

"I would like to see more of such thoughtful writing on these JT threads." - comments

These boards have some value in discussion and contrasting ideas. Some, however, imagine this area as a 'battleground' which defeats ideas they cannot influence in their own lives because of their prejudice and myopic allegiances they are told to obey.

One issue seems consistent, the accord the P5+1 has worked eighteen months for isn't an "Obama Solution". The five permanent members of the UN Security Council, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany have negotiated with Iran. That's seven nations, working together, to revise a failed stagnant geopolitical policy.

It seems this isn't appreciated by some. Unfortunately they hope to corrupt the ultimate goal, which should be peace. Iran has shown a willingness to moderate their policies and the accords of these seven nations have been reviewed for a more than a year. It is staggering how some here find no value in this.

Game saying condemnations of President Obama and the P5+1 is fun for them but ultimately reveals an ignorance these boards cannot change. Sadly, this includes the political influence of the religious zealots of the GOP-Tea in the States.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

As an American I hope that the US eventually becomes neutral in world affairs. When was the last time Switzerland was attacked by terrorists?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

No worries: in three decades, the last remnants of the Republican party will stand on corners holding placards that read"

"Keep yer gubment hands off my non-proliferatin'"

0 ( +0 / -0 )

No worries: in three decades, the last remnants of the Republican party will stand on corners holding placards that read"

"Keep yer gubment hands off my non-proliferatin'"

From the looks of it now, it looks more like the Iranians will hope for more leadership of Democrats in the future while making a toast laughing that they have to be the most gullible party ever.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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