Israel’s rhetoric over Iran 'leaves it isolated from world powers'

The deal with Iran is not a “historic mistake”, as claimed by Benjamin Netanyahu, but brings Iran in from the cold and puts the option of military strikes off the table, Gideon Levy, journalist and columnist for the Haaretz newspaper, told RT.

Israel and particularly Netanyahu now stands increasingly isolated, and as the peace talks with the Palestinians go nowhere, it depends on Washington if Israel’s attitude will be tolerated or if the US will push Jerusalem to end occupation, he said.

RT:What do you make of Israel’s comments, from the Prime Minister? He says this is an historic mistake, do you agree with that?

Gideon Levy: No I don’t agree at all, but I’m not sure that my opinion counts. I think that if you judge it in a very cold way, Israel’s security today is in a better position than two days ago, because this agreement as any other compromise was for the benefit of all parties. First of all a war was prevented and the potential bombing of the Iran facilities, either by the United Sates or Israel, this is not on the table anymore and this is for the benefit of peace, no doubt about it. Secondly the arms race, the development of nuclear potential in Iran will be from now on controlled and that’s an achievement and above all I think it’s very positive if Iran is back among the community of countries and not isolated. An isolated Iran is always more dangerous than Iran part of the west, part of the east part of the world.

RT:And in your opinion do you feel as if the Israeli Prime Minister reflects the mood of the country or from what you’re saying it sounds like the feeling on the streets could actually be quite different?

GL: I think as it became the ticket of Mr. Netanyahu for years now and today he stands in-front of what is in his eyes a failure, even a personal failure and an historical failure and I give him the credit that he’s totally genuine about it, because he really believes it is a dangerous situation. I think that his criticism will continue to be heard, quite aggressive, quite bitter, but I don’t think the military option is really on the table when the whole world said its word.

RT:Do you believe that the US now might try and persuade Mr. Netanyahu to tone down his rhetoric a bit?

GL: They will try, I’m not sure that he will listen. And you know the United States can live also with a barking dog. Netanyahu will continue with his attacks but Israel is so isolated about it. The world has said its word as I said. I don’t think that this will create a lot of problems even if it comes from Jerusalem.

RT:Do you think they’ll be any attempt at a reconciliation between the US and Israel over this?

GL: On a personal basis there is quite a lot of tension for months now between the two leaders, President Obama and Prime Minster Netanyahu, on the table is the Palestinian Israeli negotiations, which are totally stuck, and here Netanyahu is even in a worse position because he is directly responsible for the fact that these negotiations lead to nowhere. And the only question is now, what will Washington decide to do? If they decide to go along with the Israeli attitude, namely just to pull time and not move to anywhere in the peace process or will the Americans become more decisive and then it can really create a major crisis between the two countries. If the American president was really in the last years of his second term try to push Israel to put an end to occupation, but this time not only in words but in deeds, if this will happen we are facing a major crisis between the two countries, but it depends really about Washington much more than about Jerusalem.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.