From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 3, 2018
Lapid says Netanyahu pressuring Trump to unilaterally exit Iran deal
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid comes out against an American withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal without European support, arguing that US President Donald Trump should stay in the accord for six more months to negotiate changes to the agreement.
Lapid accuses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of pressuring Trump to exit the accord without coordinating the move with Europe.
“Netanyahu is trying to unilaterally cancel the agreement, I say let’s take six more months,” Lapid tells Army Radio. “I am opposed to the nuclear deal, but I am not in favor of canceling it unilaterally.”
“Netanyahu has been saying for a year that the deal has to be fixed or nixed, now is the time to find out which of those he supports,” the opposition figure said, adding that Washington “doesn’t fully understand” what the Israeli government’s position is on the matter.
Trump is reportedly poised to scrap the agreement, negotiated in 2015 between Tehran and six world powers, ahead of a May 12 deadline for Washington to renew its support for the deal.
— Michael Bachner
The Times of Israel Community.