This Isn’t The Reaction Netanyahu Hoped For After His Dramatic Speech To Congress

Tuesday’s speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a joint session of Congress seemed to have zero impact on the ongoing negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear program and may have even undermined the leader’s efforts to scuttle a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

On Wednesday, world leaders negotiating with Iran in Montreux, Switzerland hinted that they were closing the gap on a possible deal that would contain Iran’s nuclear capabilities for at least 10 years and prevent it from breaking out of that agreement and obtaining enough fuel for a nuclear weapon for at least one year. The Wall Street Journal reported that “an understanding is emerging” on the break-out issue — a critical stepping stone to any final deal.

Without mentioning Netanyahu by name, Secretary of State John Kerry swiftly dismissed the Prime Minister’s insistence that the United States and its negotiating partner demand full capitulation from Iran and refuse to deal with the regime until it renounces violence and recognizes Israel.

“No one has presented a more viable, lasting alternative for how you actually prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon,” Kerry said. “So folks, simply demanding that Iran capitulate is not a plan. And nor would any of our P5+1 partners support us in that position.”

Leaders in Iran and Israeli opposition figures also condemned Netanyahu’s speech.

Meanwhile, Republicans in the Senate are responding to the address by fast tracking legislation requiring Congress to review any agreement with Tehran. The White House has threatened to veto the measure and the GOP doesn’t appear to have the 13 Democratic votes to override the president. The Obama administration argues that requiring Congressional consent to a final deal would create “an additional hurdle” to reaching any agreement and undermine the Americans and its negotiating partners. It also notes that Congress will ultimately vote to lift sanctions against Iran should an agreement be reached.

But Senate Democrats who had co-sponsored the bill in the Foreign Relations Committee are now pledging to vote against the measure and, according to The Hill, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) “is circulating a letter to [Senate Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell signed by [Sen. Angus] King and the other Democratic co-sponsors in which they pledge to oppose the bill if it is brought to the floor next week.”

“I think the bill — barring what happened yesterday — was headed for a veto-proof majority,” Sen. Angus King (I-ME) told the paper. “I think yesterday derailed that to some extent.”

In an interview with the Associated Press, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) also criticized McConnell for fast tracking the measure. “I think we are better off when things are related to the Iran deal to wait ‘til we see if something can be negotiated,” he said. “And if there is something negotiated that allows a deal, then we should all jump in with all the energy we have. But until then, I think it takes away from the fact that we may get a deal that’s a good deal.”

Original Article
Source: thinkprogress.org/
Author:  IGOR VOLSKY