Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly attempting to influence the next phase of US-Iran negotiations by rallying support among conservative media figures and pro-Israel lawmakers in Washington, according to CNN.
Netanyahu, along with much of the Knesset has remained deeply sceptical of Iran’s intentions throughout the diplomatic process, maintaining that Tehran is not negotiating in good faith and is unlikely to make any meaningful concessions on its nuclear programme.
Furthermore, Israel has not publicly endorsed the agreement, nor was it directly involved in negotiations that produced the memorandum, which has only led to more cynicism in Israeli circles regarding the agreement.
Despite the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, which launched a 60-day negotiation period, the Israeli leader, as per a source of the media agency, reportedly believes a final agreement remains unlikely.
According to the source, Netanyahu is also working to strengthen opposition to the deal within influential conservative circles in Washington.
Among those publicly criticising the agreement is commentator and pro-Israel broadcaster Mark Levin, who said on Wednesday that the deal “doesn’t make any sense” and described the proposed reconstruction fund for Iran as a “slush fund.”
The Israeli Prime Minister is also expected to rely on support from pro-Israel members of Congress in an effort to shape the debate surrounding the negotiations.
However, some GOP lawmakers who previously advocated for a harsher approach towards the Islamic Republic have also expressed support for the diplomatic process, including hardline GOP leader Sen. Lindsey Graham, who earlier said this week that the agreement with Iran “will be beneficial to the United States.”
According to the CNN source, Netanyahu has also informed President Donald Trump that Jerusalem does not consider itself bound by provisions in the Mo U linked to Lebanon, which calls for the IDF’s immediate withdrawal from the country’s southern sector and a permanent end to hostilities on all fronts.
While Israeli officials have already reduced military operations there under pressure from Washington, the Israeli military has nonetheless made it clear that it intends to stay in Lebanon, and won’t be evacuating until the Hezbollah threat is done with.
Officials in Jerusalem and Beirut remain in discussions on how best to resolve the issue of the Iran-backed Islamist outfit.
