Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday thanked President Trump for his “change in American policy on Iran,” and said he expects the U.S. and Israel to start taking more aggressive steps to rein in Iran’s support for terrorism.
“I believe that together we can roll back Iran’s march of aggression and terror in this region,” Netanyahu said in a joint statement with Trump in Jerusalem. “And we can thwart Iran’s unbridled ambition to become a nuclear weapons state.”
“I want you to know how much we appreciate the change in American policy on Iran, which you enunciated so clearly just an hour ago,” Netanyahu added.
Trump used his visit to Israel to criticize the Obama administration’s Iranian nuclear deal, something that has won him praise from Israel.
“It was a terrible, terrible thing for the United States to enter that deal,” Trump said. “And believe me, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. That I can tell you.”
Netanyahu also praised the missile strikes that Trump ordered against Syria after that country’s use of chemical weapons against its own people.
“I want you to know how much we appreciate your bold decision to act against the use of chemical weapons in Syria,” he said. “And I want to tell you also how much we appreciate the reassertion of American leadership in the Middle East.”
Netanyahu agreed that finding peace in the Middle East “won’t be simple.” But he riffed on former President Barack Obama’s “hope and change” slogan to suggest that with Trump, there is finally a real chance.
“For the first time in many years, and Mr. President, for the first time in my lifetime, I see a real hope for change,” he said, citing Trump’s weekend visit with Saudi Arabia.
“The Arab leaders whom you met yesterday could help change the atmosphere, and they could help create the conditions for a realistic peace,” Netanyahu said. “These are all great signs on your historic visit.”
Following the appearance, Trump, Netanyahu and their wives are scheduled to have dinner. Trump, on his first foreign trip as president, is in Israel Monday and Tuesday.
