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US 's Ashton to reassure Netanyahu on Iran nuclear deal on Israel visit

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter has arrived in Israel on Monday in a bid to ease concerns over the recent nuclear deal with Iran.Carter is due to meet Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly criticised the agreement, on Tuesday. 

Israeli Prime MinisterBenyamin Netanyahu speaking at the UN in 2012 about a possible Iranian nuclear deal.
Israeli Prime MinisterBenyamin Netanyahu speaking at the UN in 2012 about a possible Iranian nuclear deal. Reuters/Lucas Jackson
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Netanyahu has slammed the deal, arguing that it will not prevent Tehran producing nuclear weapons, but Ashton's visit seemed to be an effort to ease tension with Israel.

Ahead of a meeting with Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon, Carter said the two countries would "work together to maintain our safety and security in this troubled region", adding "Israel is the bedrock of American strategy in the Middle East."

There have also been suggestions that Israel could receive additional funding to help it defend itself against the threat it says the Iranian nuclear deal now poses.

Israeli army radio on Monday cited defence ministry officials as saying they were ready to begin discussing such compensation but Netanyahu has been hesitant because he believes it would signal acceptance of the agreement.

“In terms of the actual nuclear agreement, it does seem that Netanyahu is putting a political spin on it,” Hugh Lovatt of the European Council on Foreign Relations told RFI.

“But if you look at what’s being said in more private circles, especially amongst the Israeli intelligence officials, there seems to be a consensus that the agreement itself is not that bad and does actually do what it says."

Netanyahu has made this "much more about Iran's regional behaviour", he says. "I think it is likely  we will see him double down.”

So far Netanyahu has shown no sign of tempering his criticism.

He argues that the lifting of sanctions will allow it to further finance proxy groups in the Middle East, including the Lebanese Shia-Muslim militia and party Hezbollah.

“He doesn’t have to accept the deal or not, he is not a signatory” says Galia Golan, professor at the Lauder School of Government. “In the end, I don’t that he has much of a chance, but he certainly seems to be determined to go ahead and make every effort to block a deal.”

In the US the Republicans are arguing US President Barack Obama has damaged relations beyond all repair.

During his two mandates Obama has distanced himself from Israel, seeking other allies in the region.

Carter will also be visiting Saudi Arabia later in the week.

“While we have seen the relationship plummet to new lows, this hasn’t affected the quality of the Israeli-US relationship,” argues Hugh Lovatt. “I think the US and Israel have done a good job at insulating the fallout at a personal level between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu from the day to day workings of Israeli American relations, especially within the realm of security and defense.”

Still, the Israeli Prime Minister is now hoping that the US Congress, with it Republican majority, might stop a deal from happening.

He has given interviews to a range of US television programmes, warning that the agreement was a catastrophic mistake.

But some are criticising that strategy.

“The situation isn’t good because Netanyahu has made the entire issue – and even our relationship - into a partisan, rather than a bipartisan matter,” says Galia Golan. “That’s definitely not good in terms of the future.”

Even if the US Congress rejects the deal, Obama has already warned he will veto the decision.

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