The threat of a deadline is new.
“Until today I have not heard of anyone in the Israeli government, especially someone as close to Netanyahu as Steinitz to call for the western world to give clear deadlines with dates to Iran,” wrote Iranian-Israeli analyst Meir Javedanfar on his blog. “Steinitz was so adamant that he was almost shouting this point across during his interview with Israel’s Channel 2.”
Javedanfar’s probably right that it won’t happen. It’s nonetheless a bit of extra pressure on the U.S., perhaps a result of Netanyahu’s weakening position. Even heretofore hawkish Defense Minister Ehud Barak might be wavering on whether a strike is a good idea or not, and some of Netanyahu’s security cabinet were reportedly nonplussed by a recent U.N. report on Iran’s program. (The leaks caused Netanyahu to abruptly cancel a subsequent meeting with the group.)
Join the conversation as a VIP Member