Israel apologises for likening Iran deal to Munich Agreement

The Israeli Ministry of Defence yesterday issued an official apology to US President Barack Obama following a statement it issued on 5 August that likened the nuclear deal with Iran to the pre-World War II Munich Agreement between Great Britain and Nazi Germany.

The ministry’s comments came after Obama said the military and security community of Israel “the country that was most opposed to the deal” now realises that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action “has been a game changer”.

In response Israel’s Ministry of Defence said: “The Israeli defence establishment reasons that agreements have value if and only when they are based on existing reality” adding that “the Munich Agreements did not prevent the Second World War and the Holocaust, precisely because their basic assumption, that Nazi Germany could be a partner to any kind of agreement, was wrong. And because the leaders of the world at that time ignored the explicit statements by Hitler and the rest of the leaders of Nazi Germany.”

However the ministry now claims its statement was misinterpreted by the media. “The State of Israel and Israel’s defence establishment will continue to work in close and full cooperation with the United States, out of deep appreciation and mutual respect.”