Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

As negotiators in Lausanne, Switzerland representing world powers worked to finalize a deal with Iran over its nuclear program on Monday morning, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu issued yet another harsh admonition, this time wowing that Israel “we will continue to act against every threat.”

Netanyahu also pointed out that even as the discussions are held, Iran backed Houthi rebels are gaining ground against the pro-Western leadership in Yemen.

“One cannot understand that when forces supported by Iran continue to conquer more ground in Yemen, in Lausanne they are closing their eyes to this aggression,” Netanyahu said, at a ceremony to honor outstanding Prime Minister’s Office employees. “But we are not closing our eyes and we will continue to act against every threat in every generation, certainly in this generation.”

Netanyahu criticized the terms of the deal under discussion as amounting to a prize for Iranian belligerence.

“The agreement being formulated in Lausanne sends a message that there is no price for aggression and on the contrary – that Iran’s aggression is to be rewarded,” he said. “The moderate and responsible countries in the region, especially Israel and also many other countries, will be the first to be hurt by this agreement.”

Meanwhile, in Switzerland, reports indicate that a last minute withdrawal by the Iranians from a key compromise, to allow its uranium stockpiles to be shipped outside the country, has complicated progress in the talks. Negotiators are now suggesting that the uranium should instead be diluted, a process that has been criticized as easily reversible.

Another sticking point in the talks on Monday, relates to the duration of any limits on Iranian nuclear activities after an initial 10 years, the lifting of UN sanctions and restoring them in case of non-compliance by Tehran, The Jerusalem Post reported.

“There cannot be an agreement if we do not have answers to these questions,” a Western diplomat told  The Post on condition of anonymity. “The feeling is that if things are to happen, it’s now that the pieces will fit together. There’s a moment when you have to say yes or no.”