(Ha'aretz) Amiel Ungar - The opposition to the Iran deal, led by Netanyahu, helped push public and congressional opinion away from the transformational approach, which views Iran as a normal and even welcome part of a Middle East equilibrium, and toward a more hard-headed approach. Thus, Israel's opposition strengthened the hands of those in the administration who are wary of Iran. Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, who was a key member of the U.S. negotiating team for the 2013 interim accord and testified in favor of the JCPOA before congressional committees, wrote in the New York Times last week that it was time for a bipartisan foreign policy "to win the long-term struggle with Iran for power in the Middle East." The Burns approach to Iran is undoubtedly preferable to the approach that believes that the Islamic Republic of Iran can be tamed by the deal and displays of American humility. It also treats Israel as an ally; not as an accidental partner with the same status as Iran. Dr. Amiel Ungar is a political scientist.
2015-09-08 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive