Herzog to French FM: Israel, world will pay for mistake in Iran talks

JERUSALEM POST

Israel can not feel safe with the direction the world powers’ talks with Iran have taken, opposition leader Isaac Herzog told French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Friday, ahead of the latter’s visit to the region.

Iran took center stage during the lengthy phone call, according to Herzog’s office, with the Zionist Union leader saying Israel could not “feel safe or certain” in the face of agreements being reached with Iran.

Herzog, who is in London for a series of pro-Israel events, told Fabius it was “vital” that world powers negotiating with Iran “won’t compromise on important issues such as oversight” on the country’s uranium enrichment and nuclear plants.

“Any mistake in negotiations means Israel – and the rest of the world – will pay a heavy price,” he cautioned.

Fabius headed to the Middle East on Saturday to drum up support for an initiative aimed at bringing Israel and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table, under an international framework.

He landed in Cairo, where he met Arab League ministers, and is slated to head to Ramallah and Jerusalem on Sunday for meetings with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On Friday, Herzog gave a speech at the London School of Economics, where he was faced with anti-Israel protesters.

“We are not afraid and not deterred by your shouting,” he said.

Herzog said his time on the campus showed that listening and discourse are the best way to deal with the complex situation.

During his speech, Herzog vowed that Israel will “continue fighting those who threaten our children with missiles and terrorist tunnels, but we will also continue fighting, with the same force, for peace, prosperity and quiet for our entire region.”