President Donald Trump's dramatic declaration Thursday morning that the United States and Iran are close to signing a nuclear agreement has naturally raised concerns in Israel.
Israel's requests to coordinate expectations with the supportive administration have been rejected outright not just once but several times, and the Republican Party has made it clear that this is an agreement to which Israel is not a party. This morning, it appears these concerns may materialize with reports indicating the US is closer than ever to a deal that might not address Israel's security needs. Trump is determined to return from his visit to the Gulf states with a major diplomatic announcement, and Israeli officials worry that an agreement with Iran could be that prize.
The options available to Israel are not good. On one hand, an agreement could provide Iran protection from continued attacks while preserving its nuclear achievements, with Israel expected to respect any US-signed agreement and not embarrass the American president. On the other hand – attacking Iran alone would be diplomatically dangerous and would not achieve complete results regarding Iran's nuclear progress or sufficiently set it back.
Israel demanded a significant part
There are disagreements with the US, not necessarily in rhetoric, where the American president has actually clarified his aspirations within the framework of an agreement, but rather in Israel's demand to be a more significant part of the process. These requests, as mentioned, were flatly rejected. "We are very close to a deal with Iran," Trump said today, adding that US demands on nuclear weapons have been met to a "large extent." What does this mean?
The fine print in the agreement is what worries Israel, alongside the American president's tendency to pursue quick agreements without addressing the implications for the entire Middle East, the balance between good and bad, etc. When Qatar, with its tendencies to support terrorism, is the deal's host, it's no wonder Jerusalem hasn't been sleeping well for a week.
