Netanyahu Knocks It Out of the Park

A nicely edited three minute soundbite version of Netanyahu's UN speech
For the full version, click HERE

 

 

Netanyahu Urges Wariness of Iran - Colum Lynch and Scott Wilson

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly Tuesday to view Iran's latest diplomatic charm offensive with distrust and warned that Israel would act alone, if necessary, to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. He said Tehran has repeatedly employed diplomatic outreach in the past to disguise its plans to build a nuclear bomb.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said after Netanyahu's speech: "The important measuring stick when it comes to pursuing this diplomatic opening with Iran is action - what actions are being taken by Iran that demonstrate that they are interested in fulfilling their obligations to the international community."

(Washington Post)

 What Netanyahu Said, and Didn't - Jennifer Rubin

What is so refreshing about Netanyahu is that he leaves no wiggle room, no equivocation. He will not, he is saying, be the prime minister on whose watch the Jewish state let down its guard. As he said, "The last century has taught us that when a radical regime with global ambitions gets awesome power, sooner or later its appetite for aggression knows no bounds. That's the central lesson of the 20th century. And we cannot forget it. The world may have forgotten this lesson. The Jewish people have not."
(Washington Post)

Iran's Messenger Has Changed; Its Message Has Not
- Robert Menendez and Lindsey O. Graham

We remain skeptical about Tehran's intentions. Iranian leaders are skilled negotiators with expertise in delay tactics and obfuscation. As Rouhani returns home, diplomacy remains our hope and goal. But our resolve to prevent Iran from achieving a nuclear weapons capability remains unchanged.
 

We believe that four strategic elements are necessary to achieve a resolution of this issue: an explicit and continuing message that the U.S. will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapons capability, a sincere demonstration of openness to negotiations by Iran, the maintenance and toughening of sanctions and a convincing threat of the use of force. There can be a deal only when Iran's actions align with its rhetoric.

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) chairs the Foreign Relations Committee. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is a senior member of the Armed Services Committee.
(Washington Post)

 

A Nuclear-Armed Iran: Like 50 North Koreas   

 

Prime Minister Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly:

 

Today, our hope for the future is challenged by a nuclear-armed Iran that seeks our destruction. But that wasn't always the case. Some 2500 years ago, the great Persian King Cyrus ended the Babylonian exile of the Jewish people. He issued a famous edict in which he proclaimed the right of the Jews to return to the Land of Israel and rebuild the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Thus began an historic friendship between the Jews and the Persians that lasted until modern times.

 

The international community has Iran on the ropes. If you want to knock out Iran's nuclear weapons program peacefully, don't let up the pressure. Keep it up.

Israel will never acquiesce to nuclear arms in the hands of a rogue regime that repeatedly promises to wipe us off the map. Against such a threat, Israel will have no choice but to defend itself. Israel will not allow Iran to get nuclear weapons. If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone. Yet in standing alone, Israel will know that we will be defending many, many others.

(Prime Minister's Office)

*

UPDATES: 
 

Netanyahu's Speech Distorted by Media - Alan Dershowitz

I was in the UN General Assembly when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his speech about Iran's nuclear program and heard a very different speech from the one described by the New York Times as "sabotaging diplomacy." I heard a rational call for diplomacy backed by sanctions and the ultimate threat of military force as a last resort. 
(Algemeiner)
*

Are the U.S. and Israel Playing Good Cop/Bad Cop with Iran?
- Elliott Abrams

Netanyahu is setting forth standards for a nuclear agreement that are far tougher than the Obama administration believes can be negotiated.
(Foreign Affairs)
*

MORE UPDATES: 

State Dept. Urges Congress to Delay New Iran Sanctions - Paul Richter

Wendy Sherman, the State Department's third-ranking official, urged senators to delay tough new Iran sanctions legislation until after upcoming negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, for fear of undermining the talks.
(Los Angeles Times)


Now Is Precisely the Time to Turn Up the Pressure on Iran
- Nehemia Shtrasler

[N]ow is precisely the time to turn up the pressure on Iran, to get it to pivot from words to deeds.

The sanctions must not be relaxed, even slightly. Instead, Iran must be forced to relinquish all of its nuclear-bomb manufacturing capacity.
(Ha'aretz)
*

Israel Discussing Iran Nukes with Arab Officials - Aaron Kalman

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been supervising a series of "intensive meetings" with prominent figures from a number of Gulf and other Arab states in recent weeks in an attempt to muster a new alliance to block Iran's drive toward nuclear weapons, Israel's Channel 2 TV reported.

One "high-ranking official" even came on a secret visit to Israel, the report said. The Arab and Gulf states involved in the new talks have no diplomatic ties with Jerusalem, the report noted.
(Times of Israel)
*