Benjamin Netanyahu: Preliminary nuclear agreement with Iran would threaten the survival of Israel

After to speaking with President Obama by telephone on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the preliminary nuclear agreement with Iran “would threaten the survival of Israel.”

“I spoke to President Obama this evening and expressed Israel’s strong opposition to the framework agreement with Iran which poses a grave danger to Israel, the region and the world.

“A deal based on this framework would threaten the survival of Israel.

“Just two days ago, Iran said that “the destruction of Israel is non-negotiable,” and in these fateful days Iran is accelerating the arming of its terror proxies to attack Israel.

“This deal would legitimize Iran’s nuclear program, bolster Iran’s economy, and increase Iran’s aggression and terror throughout the Middle East and beyond.

“Such a deal would not block Iran’s path to the bomb, it would pave it. It would increase the risks of nuclear proliferation in the region and the risks of a horrific war.

“The alternative is standing firm and increasing the pressure on Iran until a better deal is achieved,” Netanyahu said.

This is what the White House had to say about President Obama’s conversation with Netanyahu:

“President Obama called Prime Minister Netanyahu today from Air Force One to discuss the political framework reached between the P5+1, the EU, and Iran on a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

“The President emphasized that, while nothing is agreed until everything is, the framework represents significant progress towards a lasting, comprehensive solution that cuts off all of Iran’s pathways to a bomb and verifiably ensures the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program going forward. He underscored that progress on the nuclear issue in no way diminishes our concerns with respect to Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism and threats towards Israel and emphasized that the United States remains steadfast in our commitment to the security of Israel.

“The President told the Prime Minister that he has directed his national security team to increase consultations with the new Israeli government about how we can further strengthen our long-term security cooperation with Israel and remain vigilant in countering Iran’s threats.”