Israel’s Gantz keeps eye on premiership
Defense Minister Benny Gantz' statements and actions of the past few weeks indicate that he has matured politically and is still hoping to be premier one day.
In an interview published Sept. 14, Defense Minister Benny Gantz told Foreign Policy magazine that Israel would be willing to accept a US-negotiated nuclear deal with Iran. The statement signaled a clear shift away from the doctrine espoused by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that formed the basis of Israeli policy for the last 12 years. The interview also signaled that the country’s defense policy is now being shaped by Gantz.
Asked about efforts by Washington to get back to a deal with Tehran, Gantz said, “The current US approach of putting the Iran nuclear program back in a box, I’d accept that.” He added that Israel would want to see a “viable US-led plan B” that includes broad economic pressure on Iran in case the talks fail.
Still, Gantz expressed reservations about the current diplomatic efforts to hamstring Iran's nuclear program. He stressed that the backup plan should include diplomatic and economic pressure on Tehran by the United States, Europe, Russia and China: “We have to connect China in this, too; Asia has to play a role.” He also said that the Israel Defense Forces was preparing a military option to block Iran’s nuclear program. “If push comes to shove, we’ll get there. … We’re not America, but we have our capabilities.”
Emerging reports indicate that Iran has made significant progress in its efforts to obtain nuclear capabilities, from which Gantz himself said in the interview that Iran is just two or three months away. With the United States deeply involved in major diplomatic efforts to reach a new and improved nuclear agreement, Gantz’ statements are dramatic.
