Feinstein Criticizes Netanyahus Comments on Iran
A top Senate Democrat on Sunday said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should quiet down his vocal campaign to scuttle the tentative nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers.
I wish he would contain himself, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the senior Democrat on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, told CNNs State of the Union.
Ms. Feinsteins comments came on a day in which Mr. Netanyahu made the rounds on U.S. talk shows, denouncing the Iran nuclear-framework agreement as one that threatens Israels existence.
Mr. Netanyahu inserted himself in U.S. politics on the matter in March when he accepted a Republican invitation to address Congress and express opposition to the deal being hashed out between a U.S.-led group of nations and Teheran. Democrats considered the invitationand its acceptancea breach of Capitol Hill protocol and an infringement on the presidents ability to conduct foreign policy.
Ms. Feinstein, of California, predicted the prime ministers public statements might backfire on him. I dont think its helpful for Israel to come out and oppose this one major opportunity to change this dynamic of hostility between Iran and the U.S., she said.
Mr. Netanyahu and President Barack Obama are sparring in public and in back rooms over the framework agreement, intended to forestall Irans push to acquire nuclear weapons.
Mr. Netanyahu gave no sign that he planned to reduce his public pressure on the Obama administration. Ill use whatever means I have, including this program, to try to persuade people to seek a stronger agreement, Mr. Netanyahu said on NBCs Meet the Press.
Mr. Netanyahu said he would like to see the U.S. and its allies tighten economic sanctions on Tehran. Once theyre at the table, why let up on those sanctions? he said on ABC.
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Feinstein Criticizes Netanyahus Comments on Iran