Veteran Haaretz columnist urges opposition to back Netanyahu against U.S.-Iran deal

Israel Harel, one of the longtime and prominent opinion writers at Haaretz, delivered an unexpected public show of support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, amid rising diplomatic tensions and the apparent signing of a diplomatic understandings agreement with Iran.

In an interview on Sharon Gal’s radio program on Galey Israel, Harel urged centrist and left-wing leaders to set aside election-season disputes and present a united Israeli front against pressure from Washington. He said the current diplomatic fight is bigger than any party interest and called on opposition leaders to stand with Netanyahu rather than against him in this specific case.

“I am writing this mainly to the heads of the opposition, who are competing against Netanyahu,” Harel said. Instead of opposing him, he argued, they should line up beside him and declare in one voice, “Enough, Mr. President of the United States.”

Harel sharply criticized U.S. policy toward Iran, saying, “A surrender agreement with Iran, this is the time to show statesmanship.” He added, “The State of Israel is united against your madness, and against the fact that you reached a complete surrender agreement with Iran. Israel will not surrender in any way and will no longer be part of, or a partner in, the ‘surrender cart’ you are leading.” He ended by telling opposition party leaders they must prove they deserve national leadership, saying there are moments when it is right and necessary to rise above narrow interests. “If they claim they are statesmen, this is exactly the time to show statesmanship,” he said, adding that even if the appeal is not heeded, “the mere fact that such a voice is heard in public in Israel has enormous significance.”