Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has responded to Barack Obama's call for an end to "loose talk of war" and bluster over Iran by reiterating Israel's "right to defend itself".
At the start of what appeared to be an uneasy meeting at the White House – at which Obama was expected to press the Israeli leader to stall any military action against Iran until sanctions have had an opportunity to persuade Tehran to open up its nuclear programme – Netanyahu did not waver from his insistence that he will decide whether to attack.
"When it comes to Israel's security, Israel has the sovereign right to make its own decisions. I believe that's why you appreciate, Mr President, that Israel must reserve the right to defend itself," he said.
Note EU-Digest: Obviously Israel has the sovereign right to make its own decisions, but it does not have the right to force the US and the EU into battle with Iran as a consequence of that sovereign right.
