Israel Spurns US Warnings on Rejecting Iran Deal

CBNNews.com

Monday, July 27, 2015

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JERUSALEM, Israel -- Israeli officials rejected U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's latest warnings against Israel's opposition to the Iranian nuclear deal.

"I fear that what could happen if Congress were to overturn it, our friends in Israel could actually wind up being more isolated and more blamed," Kerry told the Council on Foreign Relations Friday.

Responding to Kerry's remarks, an Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The New York Times, "We reject the threats directed at Israel in recent days."

"The U.S. Congress will make its decision based on American interests, which include consideration of its U.S. allies," he said. "The regrettable attempt to intimidate Israel will not prevent us from voicing our concerns about this deal, which poses direct threats to Israel's security."

Earlier Friday, Kerry told NBC's "Today" show it would be "an enormous mistake, a huge mistake with grave consequences for Israel and the region" should Israel decide on a military or cyber-attack on Iran.

Israeli National Infrastructure Minister Yuval Steinitz called Kerry's remarks "unacceptable."

"This hint that if the agreement will be rejected by Congress, then Israel will turn into a scapegoat is unacceptable to us," Steinitz said.

Kerry has warned Israel of dire consequences on several occasions.

In 2013, he predicted Israel would be increasingly isolated and delegitimized if an agreement were not reached with the Palestinian Authority.