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                     US Defense Chief Meets With Netanyahu

   by VOA News

   U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter is meeting Tuesday in Israel with
   Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks that come a week after the
   finalization of an Iran nuclear deal that Netanyahu vehemently opposes.

   Carter sought to reassure Israel on Monday, calling the country "the
   bedrock of American strategy in the Middle East."

   Netanyahu spoke out against the nuclear negotiations throughout the
   process and said last week after the U.S., Britain, China, France,
   Russia and Germany reached their long-sought deal that it was a
   "historic mistake."
   The United Nations Security Council unanimously approved the agreement
   on Monday, drawing further criticism from Israel's Ambassador to the
   U.N. Ron Prosor.  He labeled the resolution a "tragedy."

   "Iran will now have $150 billion to fund terrorist groups," Prosor
   said.  "How much money will go to Hezbollah and Hamas?  How much money
   will go to [Syrian President Bashar al-]Assad?  How much money will go
   to fund worldwide terror activities?"

   U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Powers praised the Council for
   "testing diplomacy," while adding that the deal does not diminish
   continuing American concerns about Iran. She said those concerns
   include human rights violations, Iran's support for terrorism and its
   ballistic missiles program.

   Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced Tuesday
   that he will travel to Iran next week for a visit that will include
   meeting with President Hassan Rouhani.  Fabius said last week his
   Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif invited him to Tehran at the
   end of the nuclear talks.

   In Washington, lawmakers continue to go over the agreement as part of a
   60-day review period during which they can vote to approve or reject
   the pact. President Barack Obama has pledged to veto any rejection.

   White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters there will be
   classified briefings on Wednesday for House and Senate members followed
   by an open hearing Thursday at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has held several meetings with
   members of Congress and said Monday he will do what it takes to get
   their support for the deal he helped craft.

   "I look forward to continuing over the next 60 days to having
   discussions and testimony and private meetings and whatever form is
   necessary to help convince the Congress that this deal does exactly
   what it says it does, which is prevents the possibility of a nuclear
   weapon from falling into the hands of another country while
   simultaneously opening up the opportunity for -- for the United States
   to, at this moment of time, put to test the verification measures and
   all of those things that Iran has agreed to, rather than choosing today
   to force the potential of a conflict almost immediately, which is
   exactly what would happen if the Congress does not accept this
   agreement," he said.

   Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has predicted
   President Obama will have a "real challenge" getting the pact through a
   skeptical, Republican-led Congress. McConnell has criticized it as "the
   best deal acceptable to Iran, rather than one that might actually end
   Iran's nuclear program."

   Assuming Iran adheres to the nuclear agreement, the approved U.N.
   resolution calls for an eventual end to seven sets of sanctions passed
   since 2006 to force Iran to halt what the United Nations and the West
   contend was an effort to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran has always said
   its nuclear program was for peaceful purposes.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-defense-chief-meets-with-netanyahu/2871499.html