Amidror: If peace talks fail, Israel’s global standing will worsen

Outgoing National Security Advisor Yaakov Amidror said Sunday that if Israel's peace talks with the Palestinians collapse, international pressure on Israel may worsen, which may lead to harsher boycotts.

"It is clear to everyone that handling international pressure depends on the progress of the negotiations, and if the talks fail, it will give everyone interested in boycotting us every reason to do so," Amidror said, noting specifically European bans which he believe may be exacerbated.

Furthermore, he added, if the US loses its influence in the Middle East, so will Israel, stressing that "Everyone who wishes that Obama loses power must take that under consideration. Israel will also lose its power and the two are related."

Yaakov Amidror and Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: Kobi Gideon, GPO)

As for the issue of nuclear Iran, the outgoing national security advisor stressed that the State must remain prepared, since there has been no significant change on the Iranian front. Sanctions coupled with threats to strike are working, he asserted. At a farewell reception in the Prime Minister's Office, Amidror later added that "Israel is facing one clear existential threat and we must do everything in our power to remove it. If we can, via talks, if we can't – some other way. "Nowadays, the Middle East is undergoing many changes and upheavals, and many more upheavals are to be expected. This tricky situation, perhaps the trickiest in the 40 years I've been dealing with these issues, calls for great caution and a lot of thought. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Amidror's remarks, noting: "The main question is how do we make sure that the most contested, most threatened country in the world not only continues to survive but also continues to protect itself, fortify its capabilities, thrive and ensure a future for itself."