|
Trending Topics
|
Netanyahu: In the Middle East, -the Weak Don't Survive-
(Times of Israel) Eric Cortellessa and Tamar Pileggi - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the annual Saban Forum at the Brookings Institution on Sunday, "I believe the U.S. is the indispensable power in the world and in the Middle East, and I believe it must remain so." He added that "Israel is committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. That has not changed and will not change....Since the deal was signed, Iran has become a more aggressive power....We have to stop Iran's march to the bomb; its development of long-range missiles; its support for terrorism in the Middle East and throughout the world." Turning to the peace process, Netanyahu said, "I haven't changed my vision for two states for two peoples, it's the only way we'll get to peace. The core of the conflict is the Palestinians' refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. This is what's always driven the conflict." He accused PA President Abbas of "refusing" to negotiate and said he did not understand why "the press doesn't get" that Israel is willing to negotiate and the Palestinians are the "rejectionists." He stressed that, in the Middle East, "Nobody makes peace with the weak...the weak don't survive....The strong and the smart survive."