Israeli Ambassador: 'This is a Bad Deal. Don't Strike It'

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- CBN News' Dale Hurd recently spoke with David Walzer, Israeli Ambassador to the European Union and NATO, about the Iran deal, anti-Semitism in Europe, and about how bad relations are between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

This interview was conducted before the nuclear deal with Iran was announced.

Dale Hurd: Many Americans watch the news and they see clearly how dangerous and untrustworthy Iran is and yet the Obama administration seems determined to get some sort of deal with Iran, no matter what. What is going on? Does this puzzle you? It must alarm you.

David Walzer: Yes, I think the second is the correct one. It does not puzzle me. It alarms us.

Hurd: But do you wonder if the Americans are just stupid? What is at play here? Why make a deal with a country that has such a bad track record?

Walzer: No, I don't think the Americans are stupid. I think that if you look at our region, the broader region, the wider Middle East, leaders, by and large, in the international community tend to put down fires, put out fires which are burning our fingers and not deal with what is important but with what is burning.

And the notion that Iran can be or might be or should be a partner for us, the international community I mean, in solving problems in the region and therefore we better strike a deal with it, I think this is a big mistake. Historically, it has been proven that Iran cannot be trusted.

If you look at Iran's proxies in the region all the way from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Shiites in Iraq to the Houthis in Yemen to what's going on in Syria, you can understand that a nuclear Iran or an Iran after a deal; an Iran which would be equipped with much more money to support its struggle for dominance in the region is a much more problematic, a much more dangerous player in the region, and still the international community is trying to reach this deal.

Some have even said, "So what? Either we strike a deal or we go to war with Iran."  I'm sorry, but those are not the only options. The international community has proven that tough sanctions do work and Iran has come to the table. So why not go on using the measure you have been implementing successfully? Why give up? Why say "Israel did not give any alternative to war."

Yes, there is an alternative to war. We should not exclude the option of a military option. All options should be on the table. But we certainly don't limit ourselves to either war or a deal. There are other issues, there are other measures, and we are too quick to put those aside. And this is worrying, not just for Israel but for the entire Middle East.

If you look at Saudi Arabia, if you look at Kuwait, if you look at Egypt or Morocco, Tunisia or Turkey, they are all much more frightened and worried than Israel is. So, all those are America's or Germany's of the EU's partners in the region, and we keep telling you, all of you, this is bad deal. Don't strike it.

Hurd: Many American supports of Israel have been shocked at President Barack Obama's hostility toward the current Israeli government. How would you characterize relations between the Obama White House and Prime Minister Netanyahu's government?

Walzer: Well, I don't think that "hostility" reflects the relations between the Obama administration and Israel and the Israeli government. We have excellent relations. We have very extensive security cooperation. We have Americans backing in international fora. We have disagreements and disagreements on some fundamental and basic issues. But those occur in the most intimate companies of, and even within families.

So, hostility I don't think reflects the reality of our relations. I think Israel and United States, or should I say the United States and Israel, are very close allies and very good friends. And those disagreements, they have happened in the past. We have had crises. We outgrew those and managed to overcome and develop our relations even farther. But I don't think hostility reflects relations or the wind blowing from the White House towards Israel.

Hurd: Would you say that relations could be better?

Walzer: Relations can always be improved, and yes relations can be better, I hope, to minimize our disagreements and misunderstandings. But hostility, I'm sorry, does not reflect the mood.

Hurd: Are you surprised that we are again dealing with anti-Semitism in Europe?

Walzer: I'm not sure where I am surprised, but I hoped very much that 70 years after the Holocaust, that anti-Semitism would never be on the rise again in Europe. And the fact that we are talking about it today and the fact that Jews on this continent ask themselves whether they should stay here or leave, by itself is frightening.

And again here, it's a mixture of anti-Semitism, old classical anti-Semitism, and xenophobia and hatred of the "other" and hatred of minorities, and all that is frightening. And the fact that is happening in Europe in the year 2015, only 70 years after the Holocaust is indeed frightening.

Hurd: Is the time of the Jews, as some suggest, over in Europe?

Walzer: I hope very much not. Look, we created the State of Israel as a safe haven for Jews; for every Jew who feels he is threatened and wishes to come to Israel. Israel is open to receive everyone. The decision is the decision of the family, the decision of the person, the decision of the communities. I don't think their time in Europe is over.

I think the threat is growing and the dangers are much bigger than they used to be. By the end of the day it should be the decision of every person if he wants to pack and leave for Israel or for the United States or for anywhere in the world. I think the fact that people ask themselves this question is, by itself, frightening. Mind you, Jews have lived on this continent for thousands of years. The fact that they have to ask themselves whether it is still their home is, by itself, frightening.

Hurd: I can't help but ask if there is a feeling in Israel that you're losing friends in the world; that the number of nations you can count on continues to shrink?

Walzer: To a degree. We have excellent bilateral relations with many countries in the world. But, yes, it is worrying. We would like to be if you wish, more popular. But we will stay the course. We know we fight for something that is just and we will stay the course. Until we have  a solid partner to discuss the fate of the region with and to strike a political deal, until then, in direct negotiations with this partner, a Palestinian partner of course, until then we will stay the course because it is a just one and we are right.