Israel’s assessment regarding the state of negotiations between world powers and Iran on its nuclear program has shifted dramatically. Most Israeli analysts believed until now that the prospects of a compromise between the P5+1 and Iran were poor. They assumed that the sides would fail to bridge their differences and hit a stalemate, or — an option of which Israel was less enamored — that the pointless talks would continue for many months to come.
Recently, however, this assessment has changed, as has Israel’s response to negotiations with Iran. Foreign Minister Yair Lapid was the first to hint at a change when he admitted on Jan. 3 that according to Israeli assessments, the involved world powers are apparently heading for a return to the nuclear deal, or at least an interim agreement that would lead toward that goal. Lapid said that Israel had successfully maintained the international community's interest in the Iran nuclear issue, adding that Israel is now focusing its efforts on preventing a lifting of economic sanctions without appropriate Iranian concessions.
“The prime minister, defense minister and I said that we are not against any agreement; a good deal is a good thing. There is an intense discussion of what a good deal entails. In that discussion, we are at the table. The world, including the involved parties, is listening — including this morning.” Lapid also noted that the Vienna talks “won’t reach an optimal result as far as we’re concerned, but we are always working with the people involved to improve the result for Israel.”
Behind closed doors, Israeli sentiments are deeply negative. Outwardly, Israeli officials are maintaining a façade of moderation to avoid a public clash, even an indirect one, with the US administration at all costs. “Israel realized it had gone too far vis-à-vis the White House and State Department,” a senior Israeli official told Al-Monitor last week on condition of anonymity. He added that even Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who is still waiting for President Joe Biden to call him, has realized it.
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