Former Israeli Intelligence Head Urges Israel And U.S. To Devise Parallel Plan On Iran Deal To Hinder Nuclear Expansion At 2nd Annual IAC National Conference
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Maj. General (res.) Amos Yadlin, Director of The Institute for National Security Studies and former head of IDF Military Intelligence led a panel discussion of "Post Iran Deal – A New Era" at the 2nd Annual National Israeli-American Conference held in Washington.
"The deal is a catastrophe but it is done and unfortunately the issue is not going away. How do we go forward to deal with the deal," he rhetorically asked a gathering of more than 1,300 Israeli Americans from around the United States.
When General Yadlin stated that the Iran deal will not trigger a new Holocaust "because we have the State of Israel to protect us" the audience responded enthusiastically.
He advised that Israel work with the U.S. administration parallel to the existing deal negotiated with Iran, as it is being implemented. "We need to plan to confront nuclear and non-nuclear issues," said Gen. Yadlin. "Iran continues to send weapons to Hezbollah, Hamas and Assad in Syria. It is imperative that the breach with the U.S. is healed in order to control Iran's activities that continue to create chaos throughout the region."
He added, "We must never lose sight of the fact that when the 15-year term of the Iran deal ends, Iran may very well have an unlimited stockpile of centrifuges."
General Yadlin emphasized that both Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Obama, and his successor, must use the next five years to prevent Iran's empowerment. The new deal should be based on a strong defense package to equip Israel to cope with the fallout of the current deal.
The General's remarks at the Summit followed an evening plenary session featuring speeches from Israel's Leader of the Opposition Isaac Herzog, Israel's U.S. Ambassador Ron Dermer, and Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked. During the evening session, Ambassador Dermer said, "With the nuclear deal now moving ahead, Israel is also moving ahead, hoping to forge a common policy with the United States to address the continuing dangers posed by Iran."
He outlined areas where Israel will seek to cooperate with the U.S. to counter the Iranian threat, including working together to ensure that Iran is complying with all its nuclear obligations, confront and roll back Iran's aggression in the region, and tear down Iran's global terror networks.
During the conference, Udi Segal, senior diplomatic correspondent at Israel's Channel 2 agreed that the Iran deal affords Israel time, but "Israel cannot sit on its hands and wait. The U.S. and Israel share values and both sides need to realize that we need each other and that we have common interests."
About The Israeli-American Council (IAC)
The mission of the Israeli American Council is to build an engaged and united Israeli-American community that strengthens the American-Jewish community, the next generations and the State of Israel. The IAC's effectiveness and success is the direct result its ability to organize, activate, and engage the Israeli-American community nationwide. The IAC strives to achieve these goals through programs and events for all ages, as well as by empowering and sponsoring a wide array of non-profit organizations within the Israeli-American community. For more information and to register, visit www.iackenes.org.
Contact: Ariella Steinreich
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SOURCE Israeli-American Council
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