The prime minister has told the Israeli Foreign Ministry to tell French authorities to increase security around Israel’s embassy in Paris as well as Jewish institutions in France.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged and retracted his support of a two-state solution multiple times. “I didn’t speak [last night in the United States] about a unilateral withdrawal, but rather about one-sided steps that could strengthen Israel’s security and national interests against terrorism”, he wrote.
The Israeli leader said, “Militant Islamic terrorism attacks our societies because it wants to destroy our civilization and our values”.
“Israel stands shoulder to shoulder with PresidentFrancois Hollande and with the French people in the war against terrorism”, Netanyahu said as he offered his condolences to the families of the victims.
The Israeli prime minister said he instructed Israeli intelligence and security forces to assist colleagues in France who are investigating the attacks, and ordered to strengthen security surrounding Jewish institutes in European states, Xinhua reported.
His remarks came after what appears to be the biggest terrorist attack ever on French soil. He said there would have been more Israeli deaths if not for Israel’s aggressive policies “to control the ground, go into the villages, demolish terrorists’ homes and take preventive action against the infrastructures of terrorism”.
His second, surprising statement was made during a conference at the liberal Center for American Progress in Washington, where he admitted that he does not rule out unilateral Israeli moves in the West Bank.
Talks stalled on a new 10-year defense deal during the fallout between Netanyahu and Obama over the U.S.-led agreement that Tehran struck with six world powers to curb its nuclear weapons program.
On Sunday, the Israeli defense minister repeated his government’s position that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not “the root of all the world’s troubles”. The story, dating back to 2007 when the two first met, was published on the Huffington Post website just a day after Netanyahu left DC – a trip described by all accounts cordial and productive.
Yaalon said, “We are all in the same boat”.
“As a nation that has suffered from decades of state-sponsored terror, we call upon the worldwide community to cooperate in order to ensure that justice is served for all”, said former Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erekat.
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Shapiro noted the persistence of Iranian threats not covered by the accord, such as conventional weapon capabilities, and the regime’s funding of terror groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas. “We always need to condemn it, always need to fight it”.
