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Analysis: On Iran, at least, Bibi and Obama agree

April 15, 2010 15:27

By

Anshel Pfeffer,

Anshel Pfeffer

2 min read

Commentators have been competing with each other to come up with the best superlative to describe the apparent crisis in Israel-American relations, but it has gone almost unnoticed that on one very significant issue, President Barack Obama seems to be closer now to Israel's position that the Bush administration.

Last week Mr Obama said clearly that he believes that Iran is trying to achieve nuclear weapons. This is a 180-degree turn away from the American National Intelligence Estimate of two-and-a-half years ago which said that Iran had ceased worked on its military nuclear programme in 2003.

Senior Israeli intelligence sources have confirmed that there is very little to choose between their current assessments and those of their American counterparts. Not only do the intelligence communities see almost eye-to-eye on Iran's intentions and capabilities, Israel is also a senior partner in the American diplomatic effort to secure a new round of sanctions.

In recent months, at least three very high-level Israeli delegations have landed in Beijing to support the attempts to bring the reluctant Chinese on board the sanctions coalition. Israelis visiting China have included one minister, two generals - including the chief of military intelligence, Amos Yadlin - and Binyamin Netanyahu's national security adviser, Uzi Arad.

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