Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu skillfully skirted U.S. politics Sunday by refusing to endorse either presidential candidate but openly lamented that Iran’s nuclear program remains intact four years since the last election.
The comment by one of the nation’s closest allies hinted at a reproach of President Barack Obama, who opposes a near-term military strike on Iran and has focused U.S. policy instead on diplomatic pressure and sanctions.
Netanyahu said he will raise the issue with Mitt Romney when he meets with the Republican presidential hopeful July 28, just as he discussed the matter with Obama as the Democratic candidate in the 2008 election.
The Israeli prime minister said he will tell Romney “about Israel’s desire for peace and also about Israel’s concern with the arming of Iran with nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, it’s still with us four years later,” Netanyahu told CBS’s “Face the Nation.” The Associated Press
