Israeli spokesman touts bipartisan support after US Senate passes resolution overwhelmingly endorsing language setting red line for Iran; AIPAC applauds "rejection of containment policy."
Ayalon: US, Israel working together to set Iran red lines
By JPOST.COM STAFF 09/27/2012 10:27
Deputy foreign minister says Washington and Israel are coordinating over Tehran's nuclear program, even if not in public; praises Obama's UN speech saying Iran must not be allowed to obtain weapons as very important.
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said on Thursday that Israel and the US are engaged in a dialogue over setting a red line for Iran's nuclear program, even if it is not set publicly.
In an interview with Israel Radio, Ayalon added that the gaps between Israel and the US over the Iranian nuclear threat are constantly narrowing.
"The dialogue between Israel and the United States about the Iranian issue is going great right now," Ayalon said.
Ayalon added that even though US President Barack Obama did not lay down specific red lines in his Wednesday speech to the UN General Assembly, the fact that he warned against allowing Iran to obtain nuclear weapons is very important.
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Netanyahu is expected to lay out his red lines on Iran’s nuclear program at his speech at the UN Thursday evening.
"In his speech, the prime minister will set a clear red line, but not one that will conflict with Obama's speech," a senior source in Netanyahu's entourage told reporters en route to New York, adding "Obama said Iran won't have nuclear weapons, and the prime minister will present the ways in which that is achieved."
According to the Netanyahu's aides, the premier is expected to say in his speech that Israel and the United States have a common goal, which is to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capabilities.
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Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who is accompanying Netanyahu in his trip to the UN, told reporters on board the PM's place that the prime minister must put Israel's position forward in the best, clearest fashion.
According to Lieberman, that position may not always completely overlap the U.S. position, adding, however, that it wouldn’t be the first time that such a discrepancy exists.
"We’ve had [disagreements] between past Israeli and American governments, and that doesn't harm the close friendship between the nations and their commitment to one another," the foreign minister said.
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