Iran is inching towards a nuclear deal with the West, Russia and China.
Economics and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett, a member of the inner Security and Diplomacy Cabinet, told Channel Two on Saturday that a “bad deal” by the P5+1 powers will make a military strike on Iran likelier.
Israel National News reported:
Economics and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett delivered one of Israel’s clearest warnings to date Saturday evening, regarding the possibility that the Jewish state would strike Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities.
Speaking on Channel Two’s Face the Nation, Bennett said that if “a bad deal” is struck with Iran by the P5+1 powers in the Geneva talks, an Israeli strike would become likelier.
If a deal leaves Iran with the ability to “break out” and produce nuclear weapons in a period of six weeks, “we will not be able to sit quietly,” he said.
Bennett heads the Bayit Yehudi party and is a member of the inner Security and Diplomacy Cabinet.
Israel is making increasingly clear that it will strike Iran’s nuclear facilities if it feels that the western powers’ negotiations are not stopping Iran’s advance toward the doomsday weapon.
UPDATE: The Obama administration announced tonight that a deal was reached with Israel.
President Obama will issue a statement at 9:45 PM EST.