[National Journal] The potential deal, Netanyahu said, "does not block Iran's path to the bomb. It paves Iran's path to the bomb."
He called on the West to keep sanctions in place until Iran shifts in tone and behavior. "If Iran wants to be treated like a normal country, let it act like a normal country," he said. "This is a bad deal. It's a very bad deal. We're better off without it." That prompted an ovation.
In short, Netanyahu accomplished everything Republicans wanted and the White House feared. Polls show that the American public is skeptical of Iran's motives in striking a deal, and the Israeli prime minister stoked those suspicions. Obama has taken a large--and likely a legacy-defining--risk in advocating for the talks. And Netanyahu reminded the world of just how large a risk it is.