Special to WorldTribune.com

JERUSALEM — Israel has pledged not to honor any international agreement to resolve the nuclear crisis with Iran.

Officials said the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would maintain intelligence and other operations regardless of a U.S.-led resolution of the Iranian nuclear crisis.

They said Iran, allowed to keep most of its nuclear program, was expected to increase attacks on Israel through proxies in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.

“I understand that the Iranians are walking around very satisfied in Geneva, as well they should be, because they got everything — and paid nothing — they wanted,” Netanyahu said. “They wanted relief from sanctions after years of a grueling sanctions regime. They got that.”

On Nov. 8-9, the so-called P5+1 countries, most of them from the West, sought to conclude a nuclear deal with Iran. But officials acknowledged that Iran refused to agree to stop nuclear programs, including the plutonium plant at Arak.

“There are still issues to resolve,” British Foreign Secretary William Hague said. “Things are not over yet.”

In a statement on Nov. 8, Netanyahu said Israel would reject any U.S. effort to reduce operations against Iran. The prime minister said Iran was allowed to retain its nuclear capability in a deal rejected by most of the Middle East.

“Israel utterly rejects it and what I am saying is shared by many, many
in the region whether or not they express it publicly,” Netanyahu said.
“Israel is not obliged by this agreement and Israel will do everything it
needs to defend itself, to defend the security of its people.”

Netanyahu also directed his warning to the United States, said to have
led the Western drive to remove sanctions on Teheran. The prime minister
said he rejected any U.S. pressure on Israel to concede its security
interests as part of any establishment of a Palestinian state in the West
Bank.

The Israeli statement came amid a visit by U.S. Secretary of State John
Kerry, responsible for contacts with Teheran. On Nov. 7, Kerry, who left to
meet his Iranian counterpart in Geneva, said Israel faced economic collapse
and international isolation unless it reached agreement with the
Palestinians. Hours later, President Barack Obama telephoned Netanyahu to
discuss Iran.

“I will never compromise on Israel’s security and our vital interests,
not in the face of any international pressure,” Netanyahu said. “I think the
pressure has to be put where it belongs, that is on the Palestinians who
refuse to budge. But I think in any case, no amount of pressure will make me
or the government of Israel compromise on the basic security and national
interests of the state of Israel.”

  Arak plutonium plant, Benjamin Netanyahu, Geneva talks, Israel vows it won’t honor U.S.-led deal in which Iran ‘got everything and paid nothing’, John Kerry, William Hague