Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are at odds on a draft proposal handed to Iran by six world powers, with the aim of halting its nuclear program. Ynet learned Friday that
No Deal
Report: Iran rejects nuclear deal / Ynet
While details of official Iranian response to UN-drafted nuclear deal remain undisclosed, New York Times cites Western diplomats as saying Iran's objection to export uranium is 'basically refusal' of deal
while Netanyahu supports the draft, Barak opposes it.
Barak's office told Ynet that despite his declarations of support for the deal during a meeting with US special envoy George Mitchell, he has maintained the position he took last week.
"This deal will (take Iran's nuclear program) back a year, but it will also result in the legitimization of its uranium enrichment for civilian purposes. The uranium enrichment by Iran must be stopped altogether," said the defense minister said during a presidential conference in Jerusalem.
The Iranian issue is expected to come up at a planned meeting between Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama next week, however it remains unclear which stance Israel will take.
Sources affiliated with the prime minister say the proposal is a positive step in getting Iran to stick to civilian purposes in its nuclear plan.
"Israel has seen this as a positive move from the beginning, but it has decided to keep a low profile. Now, as Iran evades the offered deal, the prime minister has publicly announced his position," one source said.
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