Netanyahu calls for unity in the face of dangers

Iran intends to continue enriching nuclear material for an atomic bomb and is successfully using talks with world powers to stall for time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu charged at the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday.

Netanyahu said he was informed of the outcome of the talks, held in Kazakhstan last Wednesday, by National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror, who was briefed by US under secretary of state for political affairs and the top American negotiator with Iran over its nuclear program, Wendy Sherman, when she was in Israel last week.

The talks ended with the powers offering to ease some sanctions placed on Iran in order to keep open diplomatic channels, but did not achieve a commitment from Iran to end its nuclear program or allow itself to be monitored by international officials.

In his statement, Netanyahu warned of external threats facing Israel, from Iran’s race for nuclear weapons to “other deadly weapons that are piling up around us,” and tied them to the failure of ongoing coalition talks.

“While they [Israel’s enemies] are rallying and uniting their efforts we need to rally and unite our powers to deflect those threats,” Netanyahu said. “To my regret, that isn’t happening.”

The prime minister added that he will continue to try, in the coming days, to “unite and rally our forces in preparation for the great national and international tasks they are facing.”

Netanyahu was scheduled to meet again with representatives from the Jewish Home and Shas parties on Sunday to try to hammer out an agreement that will see both factions join the government.