Netanyahu: World Powers 'Have Given Up' on Stopping Iranian Nukes

In what may be his sharpest criticism yet, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that international powers have surrendered on preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons in the current negotiations, The Times of Israel reported.

The greatest challenge Israel faces is "the threat of Iran arming itself with nuclear weapons with a declared goal of annihilating us," Netanyahu told a meeting of his Likud Party in Maaleh Adumim, a West Bank suburb of Jerusalem, on Wednesday night.

Netanyahu said that based on the agreement being negotiated by Iran and the United States and five other international powers, it appears that the latter "have given up on that commitment" to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons and have accepted "that Iran will gradually, within a few years, develop capabilities to produce material for many nuclear weapons."

"They might accept this, but I am not willing to accept this," the Israeli leader said.

Netanyahu’s upcoming speech before Congress angered the Obama administration and many U.S. lawmakers, who charged that his acceptance of House Speaker John Boehner's invitation disregarded diplomatic protocol and showed a lack of respect for President Obama.

Netanyahu said he respects the president but emphasized he has no choice but to travel to America to lobby against a nuclear deal with Iran.

"I respect the White House and the U.S. president," Netanyahu said. "But on a matter so fateful that it could determine whether we exist or not, my obligation is [to] do everything to prevent such a great danger to the State of Israel."

The Israeli leader said that in the emerging deal, the world powers appear to have accepted "the idea of Iran — gradually over the years — developing the ability to make the fissile material needed for many nuclear bombs."

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