Prime Minister Yair Lapid will meet opposition head Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday for a security briefing on the Iran nuclear deal following progress made in indirect talks between the US and the Islamic Republic.
As advances were made in the past week in the negotiations between Iran and world powers to revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Israeli officials formulated a very cautious approach regarding world powers’ nuclear talks with Iran.Lapid, who The Jerusalem Post reported to be pushing for a meeting with US President Joe Biden next month, will first speak to the former prime minister, who requested his second security briefing in one month after reports emerged Saturday claiming Lapid was set to request Netanyahu's attendance.
Netanyahu, who declined to receive security briefings from former prime minister Naftali Bennett, met with Lapid earlier this month during Operation Breaking Dawn.
Lapid, Netanyahu exchange words ahead of Monday brief
Moments after the meeting was scheduled, the Likud head accused Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz of "falling asleep at the wheel" and letting Iran "finalize a deal which jeopardizes our future."
"They have not done anything to pressure the Biden administration," Netanyahu argued. "They did not go to Congress, they did not go to the UN.
לפיד וגנץ נרדמו בשמירה ואיפשרו לאיראן להגיע להסכם שמסכן את עתידנו. pic.twitter.com/2p2Gy8BO1Z
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) August 28, 2022
"Lapid and Gantz only woke up after the US and Iran agreed most of the deal," he claimed.
Lapid hit back later on Sunday, stating his government is "still repairing the severe damage" caused by Netanyahu's tenure with respect to the Iran nuclear deal and Israel's ties with Washington.
"We are working each and every day to strengthen Israel's diplomatic and defense capabilities," Lapid added.
אנחנו פועלים כל יום לחזק את יכולותיה של המדיניות והביטחוניות של ישראל שהוזנחו במשך שנים ארוכות.לכן זימנתי מחר את ראש האופוזיציה לתדרוך בטחוני להתעדכן בפרטים, שלפחות יהיה לו מושג על מה הוא מדבר בסרטים שהוא עושה.
— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) August 28, 2022
"Which is why I asked Netanyahu to join me for a security briefing tomorrow: That he will at least have a clue on what he is talking about."