Iran and trade lead Bibi-May talks
BENJAMIN NET ANY AH U warned Theresa May on Monday that Iran“seeks to annihilate Israel” and “threatens the world” as the pair met for the first time for talks at Downing Street.
The two prime ministers also discussed bilateral trade and Middle East peace during a working lunch.
Mrs May said she was willing to discuss Iran, but Downing Street later stressed the “nuclear deal is vital and must be properly enforced and policed ”.
The pair established a new UK-Israel trade working group “to prepare the ground for a post-Brexit trade agree- ment”. Mrs May reiterated Britain’s call for a two-state solution and said the UK was a “strong and close friend of Israel” as she highlighted their co-operation in science, trade and security.
Mr Netanyahu had earlier told his British counterpart: “Iran seeks to annihilate Israel, it seeks to conquer the Middle East, it threatens Europe, it threatens the West, it threatens the world. And it offers provocation after provocation.”
Highlighting Britain’s strong links with Israel in trade, security and science, Mrs May said there was more the countries could do to build on the collaborative efforts.
She invited Mr Netanyahu to attend Balfour Declaration events in the UK to mark the 100 year anniversary of the signing in November.
In return, she was invited to visit the Israeli leader in Jerusalem.
Mr Netanyahu’s arrival in Westminster was greeted by a demonstration by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and a counter-demo organised by the Zionist Federation.
Around 200 protesters from the PSC and around 150 from the ZF demonstrated in Whitehall. A large police presence ensured the protests went ahead without incident.
The Israeli leader also held talks with Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary.