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Israel will 'defend itself' says Netanyahu

October 1, 2015

Israel's PM has lashed out at Iran, warning that the country will create havoc once it gets nuclear weapons. Speaking at the UN, he said Palestine needed to directly negotiate with Israel instead of propagating "lies."

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Image: AFP/Getty Images/J. Samad

In his United Nations General Assembly address on Thursday, Netanyahu warned other nations that once sanctions on Iran were lifted, the country would "go on the prowl." Israel would never allow Iran "to break in, to sneak in, or to walk into the nuclear weapons club," Netanyahu said.

The prime minister posted this statement on his Twitter account:

The prime minister also accused the international community of "Israel bashing," occasionally staring at the gathering with an angry look on his face.

Israel has warned it will use military force to stop Teheran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council, including Russia, US, UK, China and France, together with Germany, signed a deal limiting Iran's nuclear capabilities in July this year.

Israel has been wary of the agreement, with Netanyahu recently calling Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's latest book a "400-page screed detailing his plan to destroy the state of Israel."

Palestine's 'lies'

Addressing Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, who spoke at the UN yesterday, Netanyahu said recent Israeli security actions at the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem could start a religious war. Abbas should stop "spreading lies about Israel's alleged intentions on Temple Mount."

"I am prepared to immediately, immediately resume direct peace negotiations with the Palestinians without any preconditions whatsoever," he added.

The al-Aqsa mosque has witnessed several clashes in recent weeks. The site is also considered holy by Jewish communities, who revere it as the "Temple Mount."

Tensions are also on the rise after an Israeli couple was shot dead while driving through the West Bank late on Thursday. A spokesman for the prime minister confirmed the death, saying "Palestinian terrorists" had opened fire on an Israeli family, killing both parents. Their four children survived the attack.

Palestinian group Hamas praised the attack, calling it a "heroic operation carried out by resistance fighters in the West Bank."

mg/ jm (Reuters, AP)