Mossad chief Barnea heads to Washington to try and halt the Iran nuclear deal
“We are carrying out an intensive campaign. I say this cautiously – in the meantime, it is working,” said PM Lapid. Last night, Iran-related hackers published alleged medical documents belonging to Barnea
Mandi Kogosowski
| 05/09/2022
Prime Minister Yair Lapid meets with Mossad Director David (Dadi) Barnea, September 1st. Photo: Prime Minister’s Office
Mossad Director David (Dadi) Barnea, will depart to Washington DC today (Monday), where he will hold a series of meetings with senior officials from the White House, CIA, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, State Department and additional security agencies, and present Israel’s stance regarding the resurrection of the Iranian nuclear deal.
Barnea’s visit is another one in the string of top Israeli officials who are fighting to stop the deal. Last week, Israel’s Minister of Defense, Benny Gantz, and National Security Advisor, Eyal Hulta, both visited the US. Prime Minister Yair Lapid has held phone conversations with US President Joe Biden and other world leaders.
“We are carrying out an intensive campaign, the goal of which is to prevent the signing of a dangerous nuclear agreement between Iran and the major powers,” said Lapid yesterday (Sunday), at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.
“Following my conversation with President Biden last Wednesday, the Mossad Director is leaving for Washington tomorrow for a series of meetings intended to convey our position to the American administration about the dangers embodied in the agreement.”
Lapid referred to Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech in Congress in 2015, when he was Israel’s prime minister, in an attempt to stop the original deal from coming to fruition. That speech was arranged behind the back the Obama administration and created a major breach of confidence between Israel and the US.
“To those who say we are not shouting loud enough, or are not outspoken enough, I recall what really happened in the past: In 2015, when Israel insisted on an unnecessary confrontation with the administration, it was a complete failure. The Americans simply stopped listening to us. It damaged our relationship with them, and they went and signed a bad agreement,” said Lapid.
“The correct policy is the one we have led over the past year: To continue the pressure but without going too far. To present credible intelligence, to be part of the process without destroying our special relationship with the US. I say this cautiously but in the meantime, it is working. The reservations that we have presented to the American administration have been taken into account.”
Mossad chief Barnea is perhaps the most hawkish Israeli security official regarding Iran – or at least the most vocal. Last week, Barnea called the looming deal a “strategic disaster for Israel” and said that the US is “rushing into an accord that is ultimately based on lies,” countering Iran’s ongoing claims that its nuclear activities are only intended for peaceful purposes.
Last night, suspected Iran-related hackers leaked alleged medical records of Barnea, reportedly obtained from his wife’s cell phone. Published on Telegram, the leaked documents included blood test results and other results medical examinations, which supposedly belong to Barnea. The hackers – who already leaked other documents allegedly related to Barnea in March – also posted a photo of him taken during a Judo competition in 2016, with the caption “Are you ready for your next trip?”
“We are carrying out an intensive campaign. I say this cautiously – in the meantime, it is working,” said PM Lapid. Last night, Iran-related hackers published alleged medical documents belonging to Barnea
Prime Minister Yair Lapid meets with Mossad Director David (Dadi) Barnea, September 1st. Photo: Prime Minister’s Office
Mossad Director David (Dadi) Barnea, will depart to Washington DC today (Monday), where he will hold a series of meetings with senior officials from the White House, CIA, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, State Department and additional security agencies, and present Israel’s stance regarding the resurrection of the Iranian nuclear deal.
Barnea’s visit is another one in the string of top Israeli officials who are fighting to stop the deal. Last week, Israel’s Minister of Defense, Benny Gantz, and National Security Advisor, Eyal Hulta, both visited the US. Prime Minister Yair Lapid has held phone conversations with US President Joe Biden and other world leaders.
“We are carrying out an intensive campaign, the goal of which is to prevent the signing of a dangerous nuclear agreement between Iran and the major powers,” said Lapid yesterday (Sunday), at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.
“Following my conversation with President Biden last Wednesday, the Mossad Director is leaving for Washington tomorrow for a series of meetings intended to convey our position to the American administration about the dangers embodied in the agreement.”
Lapid referred to Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech in Congress in 2015, when he was Israel’s prime minister, in an attempt to stop the original deal from coming to fruition. That speech was arranged behind the back the Obama administration and created a major breach of confidence between Israel and the US.
“To those who say we are not shouting loud enough, or are not outspoken enough, I recall what really happened in the past: In 2015, when Israel insisted on an unnecessary confrontation with the administration, it was a complete failure. The Americans simply stopped listening to us. It damaged our relationship with them, and they went and signed a bad agreement,” said Lapid.
“The correct policy is the one we have led over the past year: To continue the pressure but without going too far. To present credible intelligence, to be part of the process without destroying our special relationship with the US. I say this cautiously but in the meantime, it is working. The reservations that we have presented to the American administration have been taken into account.”
Mossad chief Barnea is perhaps the most hawkish Israeli security official regarding Iran – or at least the most vocal. Last week, Barnea called the looming deal a “strategic disaster for Israel” and said that the US is “rushing into an accord that is ultimately based on lies,” countering Iran’s ongoing claims that its nuclear activities are only intended for peaceful purposes.
Last night, suspected Iran-related hackers leaked alleged medical records of Barnea, reportedly obtained from his wife’s cell phone. Published on Telegram, the leaked documents included blood test results and other results medical examinations, which supposedly belong to Barnea. The hackers – who already leaked other documents allegedly related to Barnea in March – also posted a photo of him taken during a Judo competition in 2016, with the caption “Are you ready for your next trip?”
