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Netanyahu on dangerous times in the Middle East

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    Israeli PM on 'Fox News Sunday'

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Where -- civil war raging in Syria and Israel charging Iran was behind a terror bombing that killed five Taurus.

We are joined now live from Jerusalem by the prime minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu mr.

prime minister welcome back to FOX News Sunday.

Good to be -- -- let's start with the civil war in Syria how much control does president Assad have over his country at this moment.

Well -- before I answer that let me just offer my condolences on behalf of all the people of Israel to.

The bereaved families from this massacre in Denver and into the united inter American people -- I think if there's any people on earth through.

Empathize with the Americans.

This time it's Israelis because.

We've been through so much of this and you've always stood by us and our -- -- we stand.

-- -- Now -- ask -- about those are sort of control look I think I think the regime.

We'll go I think it's question I don't know for days or weeks or months but I don't think of sustainable.

And I think it'll go I'm I'm less concerned with what replaces it but.

I am more concerned with the -- line.

Of what could happen to those stocks of chemical weapons.

And those deadly rockets and missiles.

When there is no government conservative that's my principal concern.

Well let me follow up on that because your defense minister Ehud Barack.

Said the other day that Israel is prepared to -- -- control of those weapons if there is chaos in Syria.

How will you decide whether it is time for Israel to intervene cross the border into Syria and sees those weapons.

We hope we don't have to and I didn't -- certainly we don't necessarily consider.

-- those weapons or other possibilities.

But I think this is this is a real problem.

-- -- Hezbollah.

The people are conducting will be -- wrong all these terror attacks on the world can you imagine.

That they would have chemical weapons it's like al-Qaeda and chemical weapons.

Something that is not acceptable to us not acceptable to the United States into any -- country in the world so I think that this is.

Something we'll have to actually to stop -- the need arises and the need might arise if there is.

A regime collapse.

But not a regime change that as you go into some details and all these sundry sides are less basically.

Unguarded Hezbollah can come and -- or some other.

Terror organizations -- groups can come and pick at it and that is something that is of great concern.

To me is I'm sure it is to the United States would you -- Her that the United States and in other western power as.

Act to secure these weapons or heard do you feel that Israel is going to have to protect itself.

I think this is a common concern and we we have to see if there is.

Common action to address are concerned but in any case.

We certainly don't want to be exposed to chemical weapons falling in the hands of Hezbollah or other terror groups because that's.

That's something that we.

We can't be in different to it's it's a great threat we'll we'll have to consider.

Our action but do -- you conclude -- seek action -- -- precluded you know.

Let's turn mr.

prime minister -- the terrible terror bombing in Bulgaria that killed five Israeli tourists this week.

Have you been able to identify the bomber.

And have you been able to established clear links.

Between not bomber and Hezbollah and Iran.

The answers.

Yes to all those questions that is certainly to -- -- We do know.

Would -- mean the whole world consumer it is we do know that it's Hezbollah.

We would have known that you would have known all been able to surmise that but what you know from Cyprus a week ago.

Hezbollah operative was caught preparing for exactly the same cut exactly -- -- You know going to.

An airport to attack collecting information for.

An impending attack on Israeli tourists who got all flown the plane and there are about to board a bus.

So exactly the same modus operandi.

Was exposed in Cyprus fortunately there.

The terrorist -- was caught he admitted that he worked on behalf of Hezbollah Iran's.

Long term -- you know now that you could have surmise intelligently and from.

The proximity of these two events and -- identical nature of the the plan to attack can be executed.

Here I'm not -- -- I'm giving you something that I know as a prime minister -- -- because I know.

Based on absolutely rock solid intelligence services and Hezbollah and do this is something that -- Iran.

Knows about very very well.

Do you know you you say we all know -- the bomber was yes we've seen a picture of the bomber.

But do you know specifically his identity.

Well that's that's being pieced together right now.

But we -- with absolute certainty absolute certainty and not a shred of doubt.

That this was a Hezbollah operation.

It.

If I -- an -- out serve because if I may -- because there remains some question.

On the part of the the Obama administration could you give us any of that evidence hard evidence.

We certainly give it to.

To the appropriate agency is friendly and Susan war.

You have called this an a rainy in terror attack and said that Israel will respond with force will.

The retaliation.

Be linked to Israel's possible action to stop Iran's nuclear program or are those two separate matters retaliation for the response that the terror attack.

And any action that you might take to stop Iran's nuclear program.

You do assessment civil question so let me put them in -- -- I'll answer -- won as best as I -- the first is the context of the unfolding terror attacks that have taken place over the last two years live by Iran sometimes use and very often using Hezbollah and its.

Terror -- -- from Lebanon.

Which -- arms and funds and quips and so on and and instructs us.

So what they've done over the last two years increasing in the last year and increasingly in the last few months.

Is to either carry out attacks most of which are -- have been floral.

Or laid the ground.

The foundations for future attacks in five continents.

In about 24 countries that we count the number isn't -- Actually might be bigger.

And and that's a worldwide terror campaign.

Directed -- us but often including others for example there was any reunion attack planned attack.

On the Saudi ambassador to the United States.

They modern world -- taken away several.

Senators -- that don't particularly care -- very brazen how could be -- be doing this and getting away.

With murder and actually it's because nobody names and -- -- so the reason I'm on this program right now -- to name and shame.

Because you wrong -- is using terror of the way anybody uses to use it and still -- hide behind somebody else in order not to.

Be given responsibility for -- unisex.

And the same -- done with Hezbollah well we now have five Iranians in custody.

We have to Iranians two.

Hezbollah operatives I believe because of some of them were found.

-- explosives across a myriad of countries.

It's them we know it.

And it's time for all countries to point the finger at -- country behind these attacks.

And the group that helps them.

And that's -- wrong.

-- Iran's proxies Hezbollah I think that's the first thing you have to do expose.

Those who stand behind enter the second is the the -- the -- exact a price for terror because terrorism continues.

As long as terrorism pacers have to make sure that it doesn't -- exposing -- was the first step to make it not -- And the last thing you asked about their nuclear program I think.

I think these acts he's a tax on a busload of tourists including a pregnant mother.

Coach do what kind of people we were dealing with now imagine these people who.

We're capable of doing anything.

Imagine them possessing nuclear weapons people who gunned down.

Innocent people will send suicide bombers.

Who could block the straits of two of Iran who threatened to and -- Israel murdered diplomats who picked him over it.

-- embassy you want these people to have atomic bombs I think I think this is a reminder this wave of terror attacks.

That the world's most dangerous regime must not be allowed to -- the world's most dangerous weapons.

But that that question is this you've got that the west the United States and our allies working -- this regime to try to make a deal.

To stop the nuclear program if they stop the nuclear program.

Would you be satisfied with a deal that leaves this regime that leaves them all those in power is not good enough.

Got to stop the program but so far.

All these talks loses this round of talks in the last few months follows a previous round of talks.

That hasn't stopped the regime one bit not an inch.

I mean since that the previous rounds of talks -- In rich material for.

Five nuclear bombs five nuclear bombs that is 70% of the enriched material that they need which is low grade uranium enriched.

-- continue to enrich.

Would one bomb they're getting very close to the 20% that's a higher enrichment necessary to get 90% of the way to the first ball so they're basically thumbing their nose.

At the international community -- -- -- better called.

And they're basically saying we can talk we can delay we couldn't.

The CU and while we're continuing.

-- -- atomic weapons and so that's effectively what's up.

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney travels to Israel next week you've known each other since 1976.

When you both work for the Boston Consulting Group he says you to almost speak and shorthand because you -- you have such a close relationship.

He has promised to do exactly the opposite of President Obama.

When it comes to security in the Middle East do you understand what that means.

What you do not gonna draw me into pure politics because for no I'm an -- mind.

We can exchanged notes on above my politics if you want off camera -- -- not gonna be drawn into a will service.

President Obama has said that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons that he.

He -- the containment is not an option and that -- -- must have the capacity to defend itself.

By itself.

Against any threat well.

These are obviously principles that I agree with.

And I think that the US it's in our common interest to make sure.

That he wrong doesn't get nuclear weapons but.

You know but the jury is out.

On all of us.

It -- the real thing the real question is does not stated policy but actual results on the ground.

Briefly what do you think of Mitt Romney and what do you think of his trip to Israel.

I think that you -- far too well.

Why as a journalist -- think that I'm gonna get into.

Into your field of -- American politics but I will say that.

I will receive Mitt Romney would.

The same openness that I received.

Another presidential candidate.

Senator then senator Barack Obama when he came almost four years ago almost the same time and campaign -- -- -- Israel has enjoys bipartisan support.

Both for the Democrats and Republicans and we extend bipartisan hospitality.

To both Democrats and -- Well you are -- race skilled.

Did -- good.

Interview -- on television so I'm gonna tell you you have to methods for this final answer -- -- Has always lived in a tough neighborhood there's no question about that but at least it was stable and you knew.

Who -- was in debt and his father and Mubarak.

When you look at the changing landscape in the Middle East now is the so called Arab Spring good or bad for Israel.

Well the question is what kind of -- -- this because in fact what is happening is have been.

The tide of mostly and I'll always there are some exceptions for example in Libya -- to welcome change welcome exception but in general there's been.

This cascade of Islamist regimes that conduct the first election but you're not sure about the next election.

And what's in between because democracy real democracy.

Is something that is not.

Particularly.

No here and particularly well observed.

If we had that we would have nothing to fear because I've -- that that would be very good for peace.

It would reflect the needs of all the people.

I can tell you where the -- -- doing probably.

The years of stability there decades of stupid review of good we had.

We have.

-- -- You can't go into the broken -- I appreciate the fact that the United States.

Demands.

Or expects as we do that the -- really will be be maintained.

Syria I know that Iran and Hezbollah who were supporting Syria including in the acts of killing.

Really don't want us -- regime change and who knows what will happen when that happens.

But I can't drive -- -- off the Middle East is unstable because it doesn't have the political philosophy.

-- liberal democracy that would underpin the Arab Spring.

So we may be in for -- for.

And we'll have to.

Rough it out and be very strong very resolute and very very steady.

I think mobile.

Mr.

prime minister I want to thank you so much for talking with us you probably don't realize you mistakenly called -- Mike a couple of times in this interview I wanna say.

He did many interviews with the -- over the years so.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- It's the passing over generations and something that I've experienced to sue for -- no revenue for him to do all -- Not at all and as I said to you I'm so sorry about the loss of your father as well prime minister thank you please come back.

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