- Title: ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS/RENZI-NETANYAHU Italian PM Renzi meets with Netanyahu
- Date: 21st July 2015
- Summary: JERUSALEM (JULY 21, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MATTEO RENZI ARRIVES AT YAD VASHEM HOLOCAUST MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPHS OF HOLOCAUST VICTIMS IN EXHIBITION RENZI LOOKING AT EXHIBITION MORE OF PHOTOGRAPHS MORE OF RENZI TOURING EXHIBITION MEDIA CREWS AT SCENE WREATH FROM RENZI IN COLOURS OF ITALIAN FLAG VARIOUS OF RENZI AT YAD VASHE
- Embargoed: 5th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Jerusalem
- City:
- Country: Israel
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA6FNZEIZPDD31LAFV0IZLYBOZM
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi met on Tuesday (July 21) with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu said during a joint briefing with Renzi that Iran's deal with the six world powers was a bad deal.
"The deal permits Iran to build as many centrifuges as it wants and to enrich as much uranium as it wants, which means that Iran could break-up in a decade or so to dozens of nuclear bombs in zero time. And almost immediately starting from this year if the deal passes the deal will give Iran hundreds of billions of dollars to bankroll its aggression in the region and its terrorism around the world," said Netanyahu.
Renzi spoke of his support for Israel, but said he holds a different position as regards the Iran deal.
"I think we have also different positions about the deal of Iran, with the United States of America we support this compromise but we think it is possible compromise for the future of Iran but it's impossible a compromise for the security of Israel. So for us this is a first step but we control, we stay with the international community because there is not a right for Israel to exist it is a duty for Israel to exist," said Renzi.
Israel warned on Monday (July 20) it feared a deal on curbing Iran's nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief would translate into more money for Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese militia group, and others hostile to Israel.
Washington and Israel are split over the Iranian nuclear deal, with President Barack Obama saying it makes the United States and its allies safer. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it does not.
Israel is widely believed to have the only nuclear arsenal in the Middle East.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said over the weekend that the nuclear deal would not change Tehran's policy in supporting allies including in Lebanon, Syria and among the Palestinians.
During his two-day visit Renzi is scheduled to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. He is scheduled to meet with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Wednesday (July 22).
Renzi visited Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem before his meeting with Netanyahu. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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