(JTA, Ynet).At a news conference in Berlin on Thursday following his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Benjamin Netanyahu also said the Palestinians first must recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state before negotiations could be held.
Merkel said Israel must stop building settlements in the West Bank if there is to be progress in peace talks with Palestinians. The two leaders also discussed Iran. Merkel said that if Iran’s government does not respond to overtures from the West by September and halting its uranium enrichment program, the international community should seriously consider tougher trade sanctions against the Islamic Republic, particularly in energy and finance.
Netanyahu said the sanctions should “really hurt,” and that if the U.N. Security Council does not act, a “coalition of the willing” should. It’s not clear that U.N. Security Council members Russia and China would support tougher sanctions against Iran. The other three permanent members of the council, Britain, France and the United States, would be likely to do so.
When asked by a German reporter whether it was time Israel be disarmed its nuclear weapons, Netanyahu said, "We always say we will not be the first to bring nuclear weapons into the Middle East. Here, this is not just our problem. It is Iran that wishes to wipe my country off the map. Iran supports Hezbollah in the north and Hamas in Gaza.
"Iran is producing weapons and building nuclear weapons and this fact should concern not only my country, but the rest of the countries of the world. This is a threat on the entire world."
Netanyahu also denied reports saying he is willing to agree to a freeze of construction in settlements.
The prime minister said, "There are no agreements and no decisions, there are only baseless rumors, attempts are being made to bridge the gaps, but the reports of decisions being made are simply unfounded."
"Iran is producing weapons and building nuclear weapons and this fact should concern not only my country, but the rest of the countries of the world. This is a threat on the entire world."
Netanyahu also denied reports saying he is willing to agree to a freeze of construction in settlements.
The prime minister said, "There are no agreements and no decisions, there are only baseless rumors, attempts are being made to bridge the gaps, but the reports of decisions being made are simply unfounded."