Posted on 05/25/21
Jerusalem, Israel - May 25, 2021 - Netanyahu and Blinken giving statements to the media now in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu: "We had a long discussion, we're running late so I'll be brief."
Netanyahu says he hopes the U.S. will not return to the original JCPOA and adds that Israel "will always reserve the right to defend ourselves against the Iranian regime and because we believe that deal paves the way for Iran to have an arsenal of nuclear weapons with international legitimacy."
Blinken: "President Biden asked me to come here today for four reasons: first to demonstrate the commitment of the U.S. to Israel's security; to start to work toward stability" as well as support urgent Palestinian humanitarian concerns and rebuild relationship with the P.A.
Blinken says U.S. will work with international bodies to aid rebuilding efforts in Gaza and "to ensure that Hamas does not benefit from the reconstruction assistance."
Blinken: "We believe that Israelis and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety and security."
Adds that healing wounds of internal Arab-Jewish violence in Israel will require leadership in all sides.
Blinken also added: "Losses on both sides were profound. Casualties are often reduced to numbers, but behind every number is an individual human being — a daughter, a son, father, a mother, a grandparent, a best friend. And as the Talmud teaches, to lose a life is to lose the whole world."