Netanyahu: We will stand beside Egypt in the 'war on terrorism'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that Israel would continue to “stand by Egypt in the war against terrorism, which poses a threat to the entire Middle East”.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his meeting with US Senator David Perdue in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said: “Today, the forces of militant Islam are on the march throughout the Middle East. Islamic State just barbarically massacred 21 Egyptian civilians in Libya.”

“Our hearts go out to the families and to the people of Egypt facing this horrible savagery. And Israel will continue to stand side-by-side with Egypt in the battle against terrorism, which threatens us all,” he added.

Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to a recent proposal made by the six world powers in the negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme.

“Iran is relentlessly pursuing nuclear weapons with the expressed purpose of destroying the State of Israel and The P5+1’s latest proposal in the nuclear talks won’t stop Iran,” said the prime minister. “The Iranians of course know the details of that proposal, and Israel does too. So when we say that the current proposal would lead to a bad deal, a dangerous deal, we know what we’re talking about.”

Netanyahu added: “I’m open to hearing the positions and arguments of those who think differently and I would hope that they would be open to hear the arguments of Israel as well.”

The negotiations between the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany, Britain and Iran reached a crucial stage after they agreed to reach a basic framework agreement by the end of March, and a final agreement by June 30.

The West suspects that Iran is secretly trying to acquire nuclear capabilities, but Tehran denies the allegations.