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| Israel wants a 'permanent stand-off' with Iran, says British Foreign Secretary | |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Israel wants a “permanent stand-off” with Iran and would reject any deal on the country’s nuclear programme, Britain’s Foreign Secretary has said. | Israel wants a “permanent stand-off” with Iran and would reject any deal on the country’s nuclear programme, Britain’s Foreign Secretary has said. |
| Philip Hammond said Israel’s stance on its neighbour was against the interests of the UK and of the wider Middle East region as a whole. | Philip Hammond said Israel’s stance on its neighbour was against the interests of the UK and of the wider Middle East region as a whole. |
| “The question you have to ask yourself is what kind of a deal would have been welcomed in Tel Aviv?” he told Parliament. | “The question you have to ask yourself is what kind of a deal would have been welcomed in Tel Aviv?” he told Parliament. |
| “The answer, of course, is that Israel doesn’t want any deal with Iran. Israel wants a permanent state of stand-off and I don’t believe that’s in the interest of the region, I don’t believe it’s in our interest.” | “The answer, of course, is that Israel doesn’t want any deal with Iran. Israel wants a permanent state of stand-off and I don’t believe that’s in the interest of the region, I don’t believe it’s in our interest.” |
| Mr Hammond warned that failure to reach a deal would have ultimately led to military conflict. | Mr Hammond warned that failure to reach a deal would have ultimately led to military conflict. |
| “The real alternative to a deal that prevents Iran building a nuclear bomb almost at some stage would have been war. What we have averted with this agreement is the threat and a prospect of a war.” | “The real alternative to a deal that prevents Iran building a nuclear bomb almost at some stage would have been war. What we have averted with this agreement is the threat and a prospect of a war.” |
| Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu explains his views on Iran's nuclear programme In response to a question from an MP, Mr Hammond also noted that the head of Israel’s secret service Mossad believed that the failure to resolve the Palestinian conflict was a bigger threat to the country’s security than Iran. | Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu explains his views on Iran's nuclear programme In response to a question from an MP, Mr Hammond also noted that the head of Israel’s secret service Mossad believed that the failure to resolve the Palestinian conflict was a bigger threat to the country’s security than Iran. |
| “Now that he’s reminded me of that I’ll certainly put it in my briefing note for the meeting [with Israeli government figures]” he said. | “Now that he’s reminded me of that I’ll certainly put it in my briefing note for the meeting [with Israeli government figures]” he said. |
| The Foreign Secretary’s comments are the latest in a line of indications that relations between Israel and the West are cooling. | The Foreign Secretary’s comments are the latest in a line of indications that relations between Israel and the West are cooling. |
| Last month the British government condemned Israel’s “forced resettlement” of ethnic minority groups. | Last month the British government condemned Israel’s “forced resettlement” of ethnic minority groups. |
| In March it also accused the Middle Eastern state of illegally colonising Palestinian territory under the guise of moving into areas to protect historic archaeological sites. | In March it also accused the Middle Eastern state of illegally colonising Palestinian territory under the guise of moving into areas to protect historic archaeological sites. |
| In the US, the White House was incensed after opposition politicians unilaterally invited Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress arguing against a deal with Iran. | In the US, the White House was incensed after opposition politicians unilaterally invited Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress arguing against a deal with Iran. |
| The US Government later warned that Israel “cannot maintain military control of another people indefinitely” and said the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories had to end. | The US Government later warned that Israel “cannot maintain military control of another people indefinitely” and said the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories had to end. |
| Israel has argued again that Iran is an aggressor and that the West should not do a deal with it over its nuclear programme. Iran says its programme is for peaceful purposes. | Israel has argued again that Iran is an aggressor and that the West should not do a deal with it over its nuclear programme. Iran says its programme is for peaceful purposes. |
| “If Iran's aggression is left unchecked, more will surely follow,” PM Benjamin Netanyahu said in his speech to the US Congress. | “If Iran's aggression is left unchecked, more will surely follow,” PM Benjamin Netanyahu said in his speech to the US Congress. |