Will Bennett’s Iran Deal Strategy Bear Fruit?

Three weeks after a political earthquake dislodged Binyamin Netanyahu from power, it’s clear that the new leadership team of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid are realigning Israel’s relations with the US in ways likely to cause more tremors.

The Netanyahu government had a very clear strategy on the Iran deal: no negotiating with the Americans at all on the issue, on the premise that if Israel asked to improve a clause here or an article there, it would effectively grant acceptance to the rest of the deal, which Israel couldn’t grant. Thus, Jerusalem’s policy was to ignore the deal, to remain uninvolved, and maintain the position that Israel reserves the right to counter Iran in any way it sees fit.

Bennett and Lapid are re-evaluating that strategy. If there’s going to be an agreement anyway, say advocates of a dialogue with America, shouldn’t we try to improve it as much as possible?

Among the changes Israel will demand in an “improved deal” are the extension of the sunset clause (currently set for 2031), stepping up international inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities, and addressing Iran’s ballistic missile program and sponsorship of terror in the region. The question is if there’s any real chance of getting these changes into the deal, or whether the administration’s zeal to reach an agreement has pushed the deal past the point of no return.