Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed the AIPAC conference in
Washington D.C. on Monday, warning that "words alone" will not stop Iran
from pursuing a nuclear weapon.
Speaking via satellite from Jerusalem, the prime minister stated that
while Iran has not yet crossed the "red line," in its drive to become
nuclear-armed, it is putting itself in position to do so.
"I have
to tell you, words alone will not stop Iran. Sanctions alone will not
stop Iran. Sanctions must be coupled with a clear and credible military
threat," the prime minister warned.
Netanyahu stated that he was
looking forward to welcoming US President Barack Obama to Israel in the
coming months. In addition to Iran, the two leaders were slated to
discuss "the deteriorating situation in Syria" and "a responsible way to
advance peace with the Palestinians," Netanyahu stated.
The
prime minister warned that terror groups such as Hezbollah and al-Qaida
were attempting to get control of Syria's advanced weapons and chemical
weapons. He compared them to a "pack of hyenas feeding off a carcass,
and the carcass isnt even dead yet."
Netanyahu said that while
Israel is interested in a responsible peace process, he would not
compromise the country's security in the process.
He stated that
Israel had withdrawn from Lebanon and Gaza and gotten terror in return.
The prime minister said that an indefensible peace "would not last five
minutes" in the Middle East.
Netanyahu began his speech by jesting that he was not able to attend the AIPAC conference becuase he was busy with the "fun" task of putting together a coalition.
He recommneded that the US never consider adopting the Israeli system of government, joking that it was much more difficult to come to agreement with ten political parties than it was with two parties.