(Foxnews).Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his meeting in Washington with President Obama should lay "to rest" the idea that the decades-old alliance between their two countries has frayed.
Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," the prime minister described his visit as positive and productive, saying Obama expressed a sincere understanding of the challenges facing his country as he moves toward pressing for direct peace talks with the Palestinians. He would not discuss certain "confidential "aspects of the conversation, but said about half of the meeting was devoted to a "detailed" discussion of Israel's security concerns. He would not say whether Obama approved of an Israeli-led military strike on Iran.
"If anyone thought that there was a change of U.S. policy or daylight between Israel and the United States on these questions, I think he did a lot to lay that rest," Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu said each country has no greater ally than the other and that Obama personally expressed to him that U.S. policy had not changed.
On "Fox News Sunday," Netanyahu again stated he's ready for direct talks with the Palestinians, but said President Mahmoud Abbas needs "step up to the plate."
"I need a partner on the other side. I can't be a trapeze artist that wants to connect with the other guy and there's no one there," he said. "I need a Palestinian partner."
Netanyahu made clear that he believes President Barack Obama is the key to stopping Iran's nuclear program.
"There's only been one time that Iran stopped the program and that was when it feared U.S. military action," Netanyahu said in the interview on "Fox News Sunday," adding that Iran's nuclear program was advancing by the hour.
"The president's position that all options are on the table might have the only real effect on Iran -- if they think it's true," Netanyahu said.
The prime minister said he did not think that an Iranian nuclear program could be contained, but said "people fall into that misperception." He added that Iran or "other radicals like the Taliban" couldn't be relied upon as negotiating partners.
When asked whether Israel might initiate military action, Netanyahu stressed that all options are on the table.
"The Jewish state was set up to defend Jewish lives and we always reserve the right to defend ourselves," he said.
Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," the prime minister described his visit as positive and productive, saying Obama expressed a sincere understanding of the challenges facing his country as he moves toward pressing for direct peace talks with the Palestinians. He would not discuss certain "confidential "aspects of the conversation, but said about half of the meeting was devoted to a "detailed" discussion of Israel's security concerns. He would not say whether Obama approved of an Israeli-led military strike on Iran.
"If anyone thought that there was a change of U.S. policy or daylight between Israel and the United States on these questions, I think he did a lot to lay that rest," Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu said each country has no greater ally than the other and that Obama personally expressed to him that U.S. policy had not changed.
On "Fox News Sunday," Netanyahu again stated he's ready for direct talks with the Palestinians, but said President Mahmoud Abbas needs "step up to the plate."
"I need a partner on the other side. I can't be a trapeze artist that wants to connect with the other guy and there's no one there," he said. "I need a Palestinian partner."
Netanyahu made clear that he believes President Barack Obama is the key to stopping Iran's nuclear program.
"There's only been one time that Iran stopped the program and that was when it feared U.S. military action," Netanyahu said in the interview on "Fox News Sunday," adding that Iran's nuclear program was advancing by the hour.
"The president's position that all options are on the table might have the only real effect on Iran -- if they think it's true," Netanyahu said.
The prime minister said he did not think that an Iranian nuclear program could be contained, but said "people fall into that misperception." He added that Iran or "other radicals like the Taliban" couldn't be relied upon as negotiating partners.
When asked whether Israel might initiate military action, Netanyahu stressed that all options are on the table.
"The Jewish state was set up to defend Jewish lives and we always reserve the right to defend ourselves," he said.
