“OUR TWO NATIONS WILL ALWAYS CONDEMN TERRORIST ACTS”
by Sharon Rondeau
(Feb. 15, 2017) — At 12:16 p.m. EST, a joint press conference began at the White House between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Within the first two minutes, Trump assured the world that he would not allow Iran to build a nuclear weapon and that his administration has imposed new sanctions on the rogue nation.
“America and Israel are two nations that cherish the value of all human life,” Trump said.
He said he objected to Israel’s treatment by the United Nations. “Our administration is committed to working with Israel,” he said, as it pertains to security and a peace agreement with “the Palestinians.”
“It is the parties themselves who must directly negotiate any agreement,” Trump said but that “both sides will have to make compromises.”
“Our two nations will always condemn terrorist acts,” Trump said.
“This will be the first of many productive meetings,” he added, then shortly thereafter introduced Netanyahu and shook his hand.
“I deeply value your friendship,” Netanyahu said once he began to speak after thanking Trump and his wife for their hospitality.
Netanyahu said he believes the U.S.-Israel relationship will improve under the Trump administration.
Relations between the two countries has been strained over the last eight years under the Obama regime.
At 12:22 p.m., Netanyahu said that “radical Islamic terror” is the biggest threat Israel and the world face.
Some have noted that the Obama regime would not use that term, reportedly because Obama did not want to “offend” Muslim-majority nations friendly to the U.S.
Netanyahu said that a change has occurred in that Islamic countries surrounding Israel “for the first time in its history” do not see the tiny MIddle East democracy as an enemy.
At 12:24, Trump took questions from reporters.
In response to the first reporter who mentioned the departure of Gen. Michael Flynn, Trump emphasized the intelligence which he said was “illegally leaked.” He also called out the mainstream media for treating Flynn poorly.
Flynn resigned on Monday evening after admitting that he did not fully disclose the content of his conversations with the Russian ambassador prior to the Trump administration taking office. Underlying Flynn’s ouster is the knowledge of the substance of Flynn’s conversations, which were obviously recorded.
In response to another reporter’s question, Netanyahu called out the Palestinians for “refusing to recognize the Jewish state” and glorifying terrorist acts and the people who commit them.
He said there is a “rising tide of fanaticism” throughout the Middle East.
He said he “greatly looks forward” to working with “newfound partners” in the region on a peace process.
At 12:32, Trump took a question from Katie Pavlich of Townhall.com, also a Fox News contributor. In response, he said that he believes Israel wants to “make a deal” with the Palestinians.
Trump thanked Pavlich for the question.
Both leaders favored sanctions on Iran, with Netanyahu saying that recognition of the threats Iran poses is “long overdue.”
On Tuesday, the Washington Free Beacon reported that Flynn was ousted by former Obama-regime operatives who feared that Flynn would divulge undisclosed provisions of the Iran “nuclear deal” forged in 2015.
At 12:39 p.m., Trump responded to a reporter’s question about “homophobia” and “racism” by stating that he wishes to “do something about” the divisions in the U.S. and said that there will be “a lot of love” over the next two, four, or eight years,” suggesting that he plans to seek re-election in 2020.
Netanyahu responded to the question by asking rhetorically what the “two-state solution” advocated by the Palestinians means. He said he has not changed his position from eight years ago on the topic of “labels.”
“I’ve known President Trump for many years…” Netanyahu said, then that he has known Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who is Jewish, for a long time.
Following that answer, the men shook hands and took no additional questions.
The presser ended at 12:43 p.m. EST.
At least one reporter shouted a question as the men left the speaking area.