Netanyahu Calls from Germany for Tough Sanctions against Iran
Readers Number : 63
27/08/2009 German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday that progress on the freezing of Israeli settlement building was of crucial importance for the resumption of the “Middle East peace process” and that time was pressing.
"We must make progress in the peace process...and a stopping of the settlement (building) is very important," Merkel said at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the German capital Berlin.
"Time is of the essence," she added, before emphasizing the same point several times during the news conference.
Netanyahu, who has pledged not to build any new settlements but wants to enable what he calls "natural growth" of existing enclaves, reiterated that he was open to talks with the Palestinians. "I hope that in a month or two we can relaunch negotiations," he said, adding there was no agreement on a temporary stop to construction.
"These rumors are baseless there is no decision or agreement. There is an attempt to narrow the differences. But reports of agreement are simply not true," he said.
Merkel also said that Iran could face new sanctions in the energy and financial sectors if it does not show a willingness to negotiate on its nuclear program. "If there is no positive answer by September we will have to consider further measures," she said at the news conference.
Netanyahu also addressed the Iranian threat "on Israel, on the region and on the entire world", saying, "There isn't much time, and the most important thing is to impose harsh sanctions on Iran. The Security Council must do this, but the international community should also do it, even without a Security Council resolution."
Merkel then added, "We have been patient in recent years, but I think this problem must be solved and it can't be one country on its own. Germany alone will not be effective if Russia and China do not join. There is a G8 resolution to take actions against the Iranians if they do not respond to the demands."
U.S. President Barack Obama has given Iran until September to take up a six powers' offer of talks on trade benefits if it shelves nuclear enrichment or face harsher penalties.
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."
Iran confirms that it is its right under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) while Israel is not a signatory for this treaty. Israel is believed to be the sole nuclear power in the Middle East with more than 200 nuclear heads.
Netanyahu said he and Merkel also discussed a prisoner swap for Israeli occupation soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been captured by Hamas since 2006.
Germany has not confirmed reports it is involved in negotiations, but Netanyahu hinted that Berlin has been playing a role, noting that "Israel appreciates all efforts of well meaning governments to help us in this regard, and Germany is definitely a well-meaning government."
Netanyahu also met with German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Readers Number : 63
27/08/2009 German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday that progress on the freezing of Israeli settlement building was of crucial importance for the resumption of the “Middle East peace process” and that time was pressing.
"We must make progress in the peace process...and a stopping of the settlement (building) is very important," Merkel said at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the German capital Berlin.
"Time is of the essence," she added, before emphasizing the same point several times during the news conference.
Netanyahu, who has pledged not to build any new settlements but wants to enable what he calls "natural growth" of existing enclaves, reiterated that he was open to talks with the Palestinians. "I hope that in a month or two we can relaunch negotiations," he said, adding there was no agreement on a temporary stop to construction.
"These rumors are baseless there is no decision or agreement. There is an attempt to narrow the differences. But reports of agreement are simply not true," he said.
Merkel also said that Iran could face new sanctions in the energy and financial sectors if it does not show a willingness to negotiate on its nuclear program. "If there is no positive answer by September we will have to consider further measures," she said at the news conference.
Netanyahu also addressed the Iranian threat "on Israel, on the region and on the entire world", saying, "There isn't much time, and the most important thing is to impose harsh sanctions on Iran. The Security Council must do this, but the international community should also do it, even without a Security Council resolution."
Merkel then added, "We have been patient in recent years, but I think this problem must be solved and it can't be one country on its own. Germany alone will not be effective if Russia and China do not join. There is a G8 resolution to take actions against the Iranians if they do not respond to the demands."
U.S. President Barack Obama has given Iran until September to take up a six powers' offer of talks on trade benefits if it shelves nuclear enrichment or face harsher penalties.
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."
Iran confirms that it is its right under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) while Israel is not a signatory for this treaty. Israel is believed to be the sole nuclear power in the Middle East with more than 200 nuclear heads.
Netanyahu said he and Merkel also discussed a prisoner swap for Israeli occupation soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been captured by Hamas since 2006.
Germany has not confirmed reports it is involved in negotiations, but Netanyahu hinted that Berlin has been playing a role, noting that "Israel appreciates all efforts of well meaning governments to help us in this regard, and Germany is definitely a well-meaning government."
Netanyahu also met with German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
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