(haaretz).During a festive dinner held Monday in honor of visiting Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the Rome government's stance in support of tough sanctions against Iran in a bid to thwart its nuclear program.
"Humanity is facing one of its most difficult tests since World War II," Netanyahu said in reference to the Iranian nuclear threat, "The attempt by a radical, despotic, blood-thirsty Islamic regime to arm itself with nuclear weapons threatens the well-being of the state of Israel, the region, and all of humanity. What is needed today is clear-cut evidence that there is an objective, determination, and, above all, courage.
"The next generations will study how governments and leaders handled themselves during this time of crisis. The (world's) leaders must display determination and courage to stop the evil in time," said the Israeli premier.
"I must say, Silvio my dear friend, you have clear vision, you have determination, and you have the courage of a real leader."
"I can only hope that the rest of the leaders of the free world find these traits in time and line up shoulder to shoulder to stop this danger,".
"We are lucky that there are leaders like you,I don't think there's a better friend [of Israel] in the international community."
Berlusconi replied that he naturally supported "your people, your country and your history. My policies have always been in line with the policies of the Prime Minister of Israel."
"I will continue to act as I have acted until now from a belief in the righteousness of your path and from the belief that it is impossible to take my eyes away from the proven dangers that you see," he said.
"I brought my government with me here for the first of many meetings,Israel has become one of the five closest countries to Italy. You can turn to us in any request for support in the international community. I want to promise you that this is not just my position. This is also the position of the entire Italian government and people."
Berlusconi then talked about his visit to Yad Vashem earlier in the evening.
"I was introduced previously to the terrible history of your people by Jewish friends of mine,I have visited Auschwitz and I felt like I was part of your history."
"My job is to make sure that world leaders do not commit the same error of the past, the error of indifference that brought about the greatest tragedy in history".
"Humanity is facing one of its most difficult tests since World War II," Netanyahu said in reference to the Iranian nuclear threat, "The attempt by a radical, despotic, blood-thirsty Islamic regime to arm itself with nuclear weapons threatens the well-being of the state of Israel, the region, and all of humanity. What is needed today is clear-cut evidence that there is an objective, determination, and, above all, courage.
"The next generations will study how governments and leaders handled themselves during this time of crisis. The (world's) leaders must display determination and courage to stop the evil in time," said the Israeli premier.
"I must say, Silvio my dear friend, you have clear vision, you have determination, and you have the courage of a real leader."
"I can only hope that the rest of the leaders of the free world find these traits in time and line up shoulder to shoulder to stop this danger,".
"We are lucky that there are leaders like you,I don't think there's a better friend [of Israel] in the international community."
Berlusconi replied that he naturally supported "your people, your country and your history. My policies have always been in line with the policies of the Prime Minister of Israel."
"I will continue to act as I have acted until now from a belief in the righteousness of your path and from the belief that it is impossible to take my eyes away from the proven dangers that you see," he said.
"I brought my government with me here for the first of many meetings,Israel has become one of the five closest countries to Italy. You can turn to us in any request for support in the international community. I want to promise you that this is not just my position. This is also the position of the entire Italian government and people."
Berlusconi then talked about his visit to Yad Vashem earlier in the evening.
"I was introduced previously to the terrible history of your people by Jewish friends of mine,I have visited Auschwitz and I felt like I was part of your history."
"My job is to make sure that world leaders do not commit the same error of the past, the error of indifference that brought about the greatest tragedy in history".
