ntelligence and Transportation Minister Israel Katz at the 7th Annual JPost Conference. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
The recent developments on the North Korean issue may show that US President Donal Trump’s policy of force and sanctions are effective and must be used against Iran, Intelligence Services Minister Israel Katz said at Sunday’s Jerusalem Post Conference in New York.
Katz’s speech continues the line of Israeli leaders to exert significant pressure on the Trump administration to pull out of the international community’s nuclear agreement with Iran or at least change it significantly. The pressure from Israel counter-balances pleas from Europe the Trump administration has been hearing in recent days.
“It seems that when it comes to determined dictatorships, the tough approach is much more effective than engagement and compromise,” Katz said. “This lesson must be kept in mind as we approach the 12th of May, when President Trump will decide whether to withdraw from the nuclear agreement with Iran, and whether to renew the waiver on sanctions against Iran.”
Katz called on the international community to support the tough stance adopted by Trump on the Iranian nuclear issue.
“Now is the time to take the coalition that defeated ISIS, and to build an Western-Arab front against Iran on the nuclear issue, and on the regional issue,” he said. “There must be a coalition that will confront Iran and its proxies: politically, economically, and if necessary, also militarily.”
Katz also praised Trump’s decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem on May 14, calling it a “brave and just decision.” He also called on Trump to attend the opening ceremony in Jerusalem.
The minister also added that there was one more gesture Trump should make to Israel: pardoning Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, who was paroled from prison two and a half years ago, after serving a 30 year life sentence. Pollard’s parole conditions prevent him from leaving the state of New York. Pardoning Pollard would allow him to move to Israel.
“In order to make the celebration even happier, I would like to ask our great friend President Trump, to give the Israeli public one more present, and to allow Jonathan Pollard to come to Israel, and celebrate with us in Jerusalem,” Katz said.
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