Trump may cut a deal with Iran and Israel must demand the weapons Obama refused to pr

There is a strong resemblance between Israel’s current position vis-à-vis Iran and the situation in 2015.

Either way, Israel must prepare for both scenarios and be ready to respond to any American-Iranian deal.

As in 2015, Israel must express deep appreciation for our most important ally, while at the same time making clear that Washington’s agreement with Tehran does not bind us. We must declare unequivocally that we reserve the right, and indeed the duty, to defend ourselves against any threat or threats in the Middle East, including from Lebanon.

Beyond that decisive declaration, there are many steps Israel must take quietly. We must enter into an intimate dialogue with the White House over the best way to protect our future security.

A similar approach was attempted after Obama’s agreement with Iran. In a position paper I wrote for the prime minister ahead of his first meeting with the American president after the deal was signed, I proposed that Israel and the United States define together what would constitute a violation of the agreement, if Iran enriched uranium to 20%, for example, and what our joint response would be.

Under what conditions would the United States support Israeli action to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons? To what extent would Washington support Israel’s continued struggle against Iran’s proxies, especially Hamas and Hezbollah?

Beyond understandings, I recommended that Israel ask for compensation for the increased risks to our security: the ability to purchase advanced American systems that had previously been denied to us, closer intelligence and cyber cooperation, and approval to buy or lease strategic bombers.

I also proposed that Washington help block Iran’s regional expansion by recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

Netanyahu presented those proposals to Obama, who rejected them all immediately. The idea of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan, the prime minister later told me, made the president laugh.

Donald Trump is certainly not Obama. Even if he is indeed moving toward an agreement with Iran, he remains committed to Israel’s security.

Now, therefore, is the time to enter into a dialogue with the administration in Washington. Now is the time to reach a joint definition of Iranian violations of any agreement, as well as commitments to a joint U.S.-Israeli response.

This is the time to secure a clearer green light to advance and intensify the IDF’s efforts to defend the north. Now is the time to ask for and obtain the military capabilities necessary to defend ourselves against the threats of the future.

Now is the time for the IDF to acquire its first B-2 bomber, together with bunker-busting munitions.