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Netanyahu to U.S.: Iran Is Not Your Friend

(CBS News) Bob Schieffer - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told "Face the Nation" on Sunday: Q: Another of these hideous videos, another execution. Are we losing this war with ISIS? Netanyahu: No, I think you're fully engaged in it. First let me say that we see these horrors, this additional atrocity and the people of Israel are with you, we're with the family. We're with all the American people who understand the savagery that we're all up against and we support you in this battle. We support President Obama in leading this coalition. It has to be fought. ISIS has to be defeated and it can be defeated. Q: Is Israel going to take a more active role in this fight against ISIS? Netanyahu: We're fully coordinated with the United States. We exchange all the information that needs to be exchanged. Q: Should the U.S. try to work with Iran to fight ISIS? Netanyahu: Iran is not your ally. Iran is not your friend. Iran is your enemy. It's not your partner. Iran is committed to the destruction of Israel. The Ayatollah Khamenei, the ruler of Iran, calls for the annihilation of Israel. Q: In the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, do you think the U.S. should agree to any concessions in order to make a deal with Iran? Netanyahu: What has to be achieved is not merely preventing Iran from having nuclear weapons today, it's to prevent them from having nuclear weapons tomorrow. That means that Iran should not be left with the residual capacity to enrich uranium that you need for an atomic bomb, nor to have the intercontinental ballistic missiles to launch them. Why has Khamenei developed ballistic missiles? They don't need them to reach Israel, they need them to reach the United States. The alternative to a bad deal is not war. The alternative to a bad deal is more sanctions, tougher sanctions that will make Iran dismantle its capacity to make nuclear bombs. Q: I would like to hear your characterization of how you think relations are now between the U.S. and Israel. Netanyahu: The relationship between Israel and the United States is very, very strong. There is bipartisan support for Israel which we appreciate. People instinctively understand that Israel is America's best ally in the Middle East. And in Israel, we think America is our best ally, too, so there is a very, very strong bond there. And, yes, we can have disagreements between governments, that happens in the best of families. But we are one family.
2014-11-17 00:00:00
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