简体中文
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Stenmeier met here Sunday to discuss the international community's negotiations with Iran and the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Netanyahu, a strong opponent to international diplomatic efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran, reiterated his view that a "better deal" needs to be reached with Iran to replace the framework agreement stricken between world powers and Iran in April in Lausanne, Switzerland.
"The greatest threat to Israel's security is Iran's quest for nuclear weapons," Netanyahu said following his meeting with the top German diplomat.
The Israel leader accused Iran of "sponsoring terrorism" and warned that Iran is also increasing its cache of conventional arms like drones, rockets and missiles.
The P5+1 countries -- China, Russia, the United States, Britain, France and Germany -- are currently negotiating with Iran aspects of the framework agreement in order to reach a final agreement as scheduled by the end of June.
Netanyahu repeatedly expressed his objection to the framework agreement, saying it would not stop Iran from reaching nuclear capabilities.
"This deal would give Iran a horizon of having many nuclear bombs in a few years, and it will also fill Iran's coffers with billions, tens of billions of dollars and possibly hundreds of billions of dollars down the line," the prime minister added regarding the planned lifting of the sanctions off Iran by the international community.
Besides the topic of nuclear Iran, Netanyahu and Stenmeier also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the efforts to resume peace talks which came to a halt in April last year.
Netanyahu said he and the German diplomat share a "common quest" to move towards peace with the Palestinians and that it should be conducted through direct negotiations.
Netanyahu rebuked recent diplomatic efforts by Palestinians to make unilateral moves in the international arena.
The German foreign minister on his part said that in order for Israel to sustain its security, Gaza must be rehabilitated quickly.
He warned that as long as the Palestinian enclave remains in ruins, it would threaten Israel's security. Enditem
