obituaries
Netanyahu, Obama Discuss Iran
I
Raphael Ahren
Times of Israel
Washington, D. c.
p
resident Barack Obama assured
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu Tuesday that the U.S.
remains committed to preventing Iran from
attaining nuclear weapons, is keeping the
military option on the table and will not
reduce sanctions unless or until it is clear
that Iran is taking verifiable actions to
match its purported willingness for prog-
ress.
Netanyahu, for his part, told the presi-
dent he appreciated the reiteration of that
commitment to stop Iran and advised that
"sanctions should be strengthened" if Iran
continues to move ahead toward the bomb.
Significantly, Netanyahu demanded the
full dismantling of Iran's "military nuclear"
capacity and made plain that he did not
believe President Hasan Rouhani's assur-
ances that Iran constituted no threat to
other nations.
Iran, Netanyahu told Obama in their
joint media appearance at the Oval Office,
remains bent on the destruction of Israel.
The two leaders, who spoke to the media
after more than an hour of talks, gave the
impression of being at ease with each other
and closely coordinated. They shook hands
more than once; Obama patted Netanyahu
on the arm at times; and the Israeli prime
minister smiled warmly at the president.
Plainly, Netanyahu did not want to be
perceived as an intransigent leader block-
ing any chance of a diplomatic resolution to
the Iranian nuclear standoff. Plainly, too, he
was gratified to hear Obama stress that the
option of military intervention to thwart
Iran remains on the table — something the
president did not cite in a specific Iranian
context during his speech at the U.N.
General Assembly last week.
Nonetheless, Netanyahu highlighted that,
despite Iran's moderate rhetoric, the Islamic
Republic remains intent on the destruction
of Israel and that it must be stripped of
what he called its "military nuclear" capa-
bility.
Obama, who said the US-Israel alliance
and the U.S. commitment to Israel's security
were "stronger than ever," said he had to
"test" the willingness of the Iranians to meet
their international obligations, but that the
U.S. was entering negotiations "clear-eyed"
and was taking
no option off the
Benjamin Netanyahu and Barack Obama following their meeting
table, "includ-
Monday. (Photo Credit: Kobi Gideon/GPO/Flash 90/Times of Israel)
ing the military
option:' to make
sure Iran did not
diplomacy to succeed, "pressure and sanc-
get nuclear weapons.
tions" had to be maintained. The "bottom
Words would not suffice, he said. Iran
line he stressed, is that Iran not get nuclear
would have to meet "the highest level of
weapons.
verification" before the international com-
He said he appreciated Obama's remarks
munity could start "sanctions relief:' he
about the imperative that Iran's words be
added.
matched with real, verifiable actions. Its
He also promised to consult closely with
"military nuclear" program, he said, had to
Israel as the contacts with Iran move for-
be dismantled.
ward.
It was the combination of a credible
It was imperative, for Israel and for world
military threat and the sanctions that had
security, said Obama, that Iran not get the
pushed Iran into the corner, he said. Those
bomb. The U.S. did not want a nuclear arms pressures should be kept in place. And "it is
race in the most incendiary part of the
Israel's firm belief that if Iran continues to
world, he noted.
advance its nuclear program during nego-
For his part, Netanyahu stressed to
tiations, the sanctions should be strength-
Obama that, for the U.S., "there is no better
ened," he said.
ally, more reliable, more stable, more demo-
On the Palestinian issue, Obama said he
cratic" than Israel in the "very dangerous"
"commended" Netanyahu for sharing good
Middle East, and that "the most important
faith negotiations with the Palestinians, and
challenge" was preventing Iran from getting said the U.S. goal was to facilitate an accord
nuclear weapons.
for two states living side by side in peace
Netanyahu did not dismiss the idea of
and security. He warned there was limited
attempting diplomacy; but he said that for
time to achieve that goal.
vot
HELPING SENIORS PAY TRIBUTE TO THEIR LOVED ONES
Temple Israel, in conjunction with its Robert Sosnick Family
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an opportunity for older adults in the community to visit the
gravesides of their loved ones. This program serves the
residents of assisted living facilities and apartments.
Spend Sunday October 6th remembering your loved ones.
Each participant will be accompanied by a volunteer on a
one-to-one basis for the morning.
For more information, please contact Stephanie in the
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THE IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL
18325 W. Nine Mile Road Southfield, MI 48075
248.569.0020 • IraKaufman.com
62
October 3 • 2013
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