Before talks on long-term deal, Israeli campaign underlines futility of easing sanctions

Netanyahu launches campaign aimed at showing how the easing of sanctions on Iran has not changed its aggressive behavior.

By HERB KEINON
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at INSS Jan 28 2014 (photo credit: screenshot)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at INSS Jan 28 2014
(photo credit: screenshot)
With the six world powers and Iran set to begin talks in a week on a long-term deal to curb Teheran's nuclear program, Israel has launched a campaign aimed at showing how the easing of sanctions on Iran has not changed that country's aggressive behavior.
As part of the campaign, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu opened the weekly cabinet meeting Sunday by saying he wanted to comment on the sanctions relief that was given Iran as part of the interim agreement with Iran brokered in Geneva in November.
"The international easing of the sanctions against Iran has not led Iran to moderate its international aggression, the complete opposite has occurred," he said. "The Iranian Foreign Minister recently met with the head of Islamic Jihad, Iran continues to provide lethal weapons to terrorist, continues to be complicit in massacres in Syria, and now has added the following: the crude and sharp attack by the Iranian leader on the US, along with sending warships to the Atlantic Ocean" Netanyahu was referring to a speech Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave Saturday, in which he slammed US policy toward Iran as "controlling and meddlesome" and said that the US was lying when it said it did not seek regime change in Iran, as well as to reports Iran sent warships to approach US maritime borders.
"What is happening here is that the international community has reduced the sanctions on Iran and Iran is stepping up its international aggression." he said.
Netanyahu's comments at the cabinet, as well as the campaign arguing that easing the sanctions has not altered Iranian behavior, reflects a growing concern in Jerusalem about increasing European interest in exploring the possibility of renewing business with Iran.
"If there is erosion of economic pressure, what leverage will there be left against the Iranians?" one official asked.
As part of this Israeli campaign, Netanyahu's spokesman to the Arabic media, Ofir Gendelman, tweeted in Arabic and in English a graphic of a smiling Iranian President Hassan Rouhani over the caption, "What Rouhani Says," next to a picture of a scowling Rouhani over the caption "What Rouhani Does." The graphic then goes on to contrast Rouhan's words with Iran's actions. For instance, Rouhani claims Iran's nuclear project is peaceful, according to the graphic, while Teheran "continues developing Iran's military nuclear capabilities."