Netanyahu speech draws collective ire in Israel and Iran

Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress may have been greeted by standing ovations in the chamber and praise from U.S. foreign policy hawks, but the Israeli Prime Minister’s performance drew a cooler reception in Israel and outright scorn in Iran. Voters in Jerusalem, who will be called to give a verdict on Netanyahu’s governing coalition in two weeks, said they were concerned he’d recklessly interfered in the domestic politics of a vital ally. Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham accused Netanyahu of spreading lies about Iran’s nuclear programme. She dismissed the speech as repetitious, boring and a “sign of weakness”.

[This anti-Iranian policy] is facing serious problems because of the continuous talks and Iran’s serious determination to overcome this fabricated crisis.

Marzieh Afkham, Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini also implicitly criticised Netanyahu, warning against “spreading fears” and promising that a deal was close. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will continue talks with his Iranian counterpart in Switzerland today, after President Barack Obama dismissed Netanyahu’s speech as “theatre” that contained no solutions. Leading House Democrat Nancy Pelosi chimed in too, saying she had been “saddened by the insult to the intelligence of the United States”.

As far as I can tell, there was nothing new. On the core issue, which is how to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon which would make it far more dangerous, the prime minister did not offer any viable alternatives.

U.S. President Barack Obama

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