BICOM

Leaders across Israel’s political spectrum yesterday criticised this weekend’s widespread lifting of international sanctions on Iran over its’ nuclear development.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) declared that Iran has complied with the conditions of a deal agreed in July, between Iran and the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany), which requires Tehran to significantly reduce its nuclear development over the next ten years in return for sanctions relief. As a result, the United States and European Union both announced that associated sanctions have been lifted, a move which is expected to quickly unfreeze billions of pounds worth of Iranian assets.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been one of the most vocal opponents of the agreement on the global stage, told his cabinet yesterday that, “Israel’s position is, and remains exactly as it has always been — to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.” He warned that, “What’s clear is that Iran will now turn its resources toward its terrorist activity in the region and rest of the world.” He said that the international community must provide “an appropriate response to every violation,” adding that Israel “will do everything it takes to maintain its security and defend itself.”

Opposition leader and Zionist Union head Isaac Herzog said that removing sanctions will allow money to flow to Iran and “will unleash a lion from the cage, it will have a direct influence over the balance of power in our region.”

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid was equally scathing, saying, “Today, a country that threatens the existence of Israel, denies the Holocaust, destabilizes the Middle East, subjugates its own people and supports terror across the globe is being strengthened by the international community.” He added that lifting sanctions “strengthens terrorists across the region who benefit from Iranian support.”

Meanwhile, Zionist Union MK Ksenia Svetlova called for domestic recriminations, saying that the lifting of sanctions means it is “time to admit that Netanyahu’s foreign policy failed dramatically.”