Retired Israeli Generals Denounce Planned Netanyahu Speech
Former military leaders say address to Congress damages Israel’s credibility with White House
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By Nicholas Casey and Joshua Mitnick / WSJ March 1, 2015
TEL AVIV—Six retired Israeli generals came out against an upcoming speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the U.S. Congress about Iran, arguing that it would embolden Iran by damaging Israel’s credibility with the White House.
The comments, a rare public rebuke by retired military leaders before an election, came on the eve of Mr. Netanyahu’s departure to Washington. In the U.S. on Tuesday, he intends to outline a case against a possible agreement between Tehran and six world powers meant to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The Obama administration said it wasn’t consulted beforehand and called it a breach of protocol.
“When the Israeli prime minister argues that his speech will stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, he is not only misleading Israel—he is actually strengthening Iran,” said Amnon Reshef, a former general who headed Israel’s armored corps. “The American people see the rift between Israel and the administration. The Israeli public sees it and more important: the mullahs in Iran see it as well.”
The six retired generals have been joined by more than 170 other former military and intelligence officials who formed an alliance called Commanders for Israel’s Security late last year to promote normalizing Israel’s relations in the region.
The retired military officials say the speech will weaken Israel’s ties to the U.S., and by extension its influence on U.S. policy. On Sunday, Mr. Netanyahu reiterated his intentions to give the speech before boarding a flight for Washington.
He pivoted away from concerns about diplomatic damage and instead made nationalist and religious appeals, stopping to pray at the Western Wall the evening before and calling himself the emissary of the entire Jewish people.
“I am deeply and genuinely concerned for the security of all Israelis, for the fate of the nation, and for the fate of our people and I will do my utmost to ensure our future,” he said.
Active-duty Israeli generals have repeatedly called Iran a threat, but they have been mum about Mr. Netanyahu’s speech and its political overtones.
Still, some analysts believe the opposition of the retired officers reflects the thinking of many in the military and security establishments, both of whom rely heavily on U.S. equipment, funding and expertise.
“In the last 30 years, the security establishment has become very close to the U.S., they are more sensitive to American discomfort over the speech,’’ said Ehud Eiran, a security expert at Haifa University.
Beyond those who spoke Sunday, other defense leaders have come out against Mr. Netanyahu. On Friday, Meir Dagan, a former director of intelligence agency Mossad under Mr. Netanyahu, said in an interview with Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth that the speech was “single-handedly motivating the Americans into rushing into an agreement.” He added: “The person that has caused Israel the most strategic damage when it comes to the Iranian issue is the prime minister.”
Mr. Dagan has criticized Mr. Netanyahu’s security policy in the past. Gadi Shamni, a former general who isn’t part of the group of ex-commanders, said the rift with President Barack Obama risks undermining Israel’s credibility with the Department of Defense and intelligence agencies.
“The dominance of the White House and the National Security Council in directing policy to those institutions and bodies that cooperate with Israel is crucial,” he said.
Last week, national security adviser Susan Rice said the speech would damage relations with Israel, and Mr. Obama has assigned her to speak this week at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee annual meeting.
The message was picked up by the six retired generals who spoke to reporters Sunday. |
