CCB MEDIA PHOTO
Israeli Consul General Yehuda Yaakov speaks at a gathering in Mashpee on the Iran nuclear deal
MASHPEE – The Israeli consul general for New England delivered a stinging rebuke of the Iran nuclear deal during a speech Sunday afternoon at the Willowbend County Club in Mashpee, saying he “never felt more uncomfortable” about his nation’s security than he has since the deal was announced.
Yehuda Yaakov called it a disagreement between Israel and its only strategic partner, the United States.
“My obsession over the last decade has been the Iranian issue…it is no secret that Israel thinks this is a bad deal for them,” he said.
Yaakov believes that at the end of the day, the deal does not prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power, it only delays their ability to build nuclear weapons.
“Iran will do everything it sees necessary to implement the details of the agreement which pertain to the sites that will be under inspection,” he said.
But he cautioned that Iran will simultaneously “test the parameters” of the agreement and test international will.
Yaakov referred to an underground facility revealed in 2010 which is under a mountain and discovered by western intelligence years before in the Bush administration.
“It will become more difficult to keep Iran in check in the future,” Yaakov warned.
“There is a question mark in the region about whether or not our friends and allies plan to maintain the traditional alliances that have existed throughout the Cold War. Or is there now a thought of re-examining those alliances to create a different balance in the Middle East,” he said.
He told the crowd of about 50 that they should ask if a deal weakening Israel will help the U.S. in the long run.
“There is the very real possibility of a nuclear arms race,” he said.
The consul general also fears that the deal will get in the way of a long-standing relationship with the U.S.
President Barack Obama has said the Iran deal curbs Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief. Obama will likely have to veto a resolution of disapproval of lawmakers, blemishing his signature foreign policy initiative.
But he appears on track to garner enough support from Democrats to hold off Republican override efforts.
Yaakov’s appearance was organized by Boston civic leader and philanthropist Ted Cutler, who has served 2 terms of chairman of the board of Hebrew College and is past chair of Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
Cutler told the audience that the forum was not designed to tell you what to think. “I want you make up your own mind. Think about what you think is right. Think about the information you will hear today,” he said.
The invitation-only audience was made up Cape Cod business and civic leaders.
During a question and answer session, issues surrounding possible military involvement against Iran and what solutions Israel supports were discussed.
Yaakov said Israelis “are not about regime change” in Iran. He said it’s about behavioral change.
In response to a question about whether he felt betrayed by Obama, Yaakov said he felt the “goalposts have been moved” on them.
He said that while the debate is not personal against the Obama administration, it’s also unfair that just because the U.S. may have had a change of opinion on Iraq, doesn’t mean Israel must change its opinion.
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