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Israeli Ambassador Herzog: With Iran, Need to "Focus on the Disincentives"

(Jewish Insider) Gabby Deutch - "Our relations with the administration and with the American people are strong and solid," Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog said in an interview at the Israeli Embassy. "It's no secret that there are differences between us on some issues. But we speak openly about everything. We know exactly where we stand. We know what we agree on. We know what we disagree on. And to the extent that we disagree on certain issues, we know how to manage our disagreements." Herzog's policy is to meet with almost everyone. "I will not speak to [Rep.] Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), because I know that she doesn't want to speak to me, and she has no interest in whatever I have to say, and I will not speak to antisemites, people like that. But save for that, everybody else I will speak to, no matter if they agree with me or disagree with me." Herzog's biggest focus in Washington is Iran. "Israel is not against diplomacy or a diplomatic outcome. We agree with the administration that Iran should be denied the nuclear weapon or the ability to become a nuclear-armed state, and that diplomacy is the preferred method to go about it. The issue we had was with what kind of deal was - is - on the table." Herzog argues that the focus must be on deterrence. "Diplomacy offers Iran incentives, but I think you have to focus on the disincentives: economic pressures, political pressures and other types of pressures on Iran, including a last-resort credible military option" - essentially, the strategy for which Israel has been advocating for years. "We think that with more pressure on Iran, and with a better mix of incentives and disincentives, you can get a better deal."
2022-09-29 00:00:00
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