Lapid says Netanyahu must 'admit failure' for not thwarting Iran nuclear deal

Speaking at a cultural event in Beersheba, Lapid said the Knesset needed to examine how Israel reached the point in which which its national security had been harmed.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Updated: SEPTEMBER 6, 2015 01:29
Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid at the Knesset (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid at the Knesset
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid wrote the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee over the weekend, asking it to investigate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s failure to prevent the international community from making a deal with Iran, Lapid announced Saturday night.
Speaking at a cultural event in Beersheba, Lapid said the Knesset needed to examine how Israel reached the point at which its national security had been harmed.
“Netanyahu needs to stand before the Israeli public and say, ‘I failed,’” Lapid told the crowd. “Even before his speech to Congress, he led an aggressive campaign; damaged our relations with the United States; split the Jewish community in the United States; led us to a situation in which Israel is no longer a bipartisan issue; and perhaps most seriously, damaged Israel’s security deterrence.
The Arab World is looking toward Israel today and understands that we are not shoulder- to-shoulder with the US.”
Lapid questioned statements from Netanyahu’s associates that he was aware US President Barack Obama would achieve enough support for the deal to prevent Congress from blocking it.
“Now Netanyahu says, ‘I knew we would lose,’” Lapid pointed out. “Does he think we’re all stupid? If you knew we were going to lose why did you ask AIPAC to use its political capital in the White House and in Congress to gain support? Why did you deliver that speech to Congress? So long as Netanyahu is Prime Minister, it won’t be possible to rehabilitate the relationship with the United States, it won’t just rebuild itself.”
The Likud responded that instead of bashing the prime minister on Iran, he should stand behind him and praise him for persuading the American people to oppose Iran’s terror and aggression.
“For your information MK Lapid, a large majority of the American Congress opposes the deal with Iran,” the Likud said.