Netanyahu warns Merkel of Iran's ‘genocidal designs’, goal to wage religious war

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday that Iran’s goal is to wage a religious war in Syria and that the Islamic Regime is seeking nuclear weapons to fulfill its “genocidal designs” to destroy Israel.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Berlin, Netanyahu referred to Iran’s military presence in Syria with its potential to incite a new religious war in the region given the Shiite militias - which he estimated currently at 18,000 fighters -- intent to convert Sunnis.

He warned that Iran is seeking to “conquer the Middle East.”

“The consequences will be many, many more refugees and you know where exactly they will come,” he said, urging Germany to adopt a harsher stance against Iran and quit the 2015 nuclear deal.

Tehran has been able to bankroll a growing military presence in countries like Syria and Yemen because sanctions had been lifted in exchange for its halt in nuclear enrichment activities, Netanyahu argued. “We have to break their money machine,” he said.

“Iran calls for our destruction but it is also seeking nuclear weapons to carry out its genocidal designs. We know that for a fact,” Netanyahu said mentioning comments made by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today calling the Jewish state a “cancerous tumor” that must be “removed and eradicated.”

Israel continuously asserts that it will not allow Iran to entrench itself in Syria, where it has for years provided military backing to President Bashar al-Assad alongside Russia.

“Iran must not be allowed to have a military foothold in Syria,” Netanyahu said at the press conference, repeating the mantra. “Iran should leave Syria. All parts of Syria.”

Merkel echoed Netanyahu’s concerns and agreed that Iranian troops should be removed from Syria, especially those close to the Israeli border. She expressed unease over Iran’s behavior referring to its regional activity and missile program.

Whilst the two leaders appeared to see eye-to-eye on matters related to Israel’s security concerns and the danger of Iranian influence, the nuclear deal remained a matter of discord.

Merkel, however did applaud Israel's efforts in publishing various materials about the Iranian program, saying that they would be further examined. 

With partners in Berlin, Paris and London still reeling from President Donald Trump's decision last month to exit the hard-fought 2015 accord, Netanyahu expected to seek European cooperation on a still-to-be-determined Plan B.

The German leader reaffirmed her commitment to the deal, “although we have disagreements about the effectiveness of the agreement,” she made it apparent that Berlin wishes to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Merkel and Netanyahu agreed that it was important that the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reviewed the secret trove of information that Israel nabbed from Tehran in April this year said by Israel to indicate evidence that Iran lied about its weapons program.

Turning to the long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process overshadowed by the recent string of clashes along the Gaza border where over 100 Palestinians were killed and slew of rockets were fired into Israel, Netanyahu said "our hand is always extended in peace."

He added that Israel's improving relations with Arab states was the "most promising route."

"There isn't an agreement on all points. But we're partners, we're friends," Merkel responded whilst reiterating the need for a two-state solution.

Merkel referred to the "abuse of civilians, children sent to the border with Israel," and offered to "help with economic support for the Gaza population." 

The two leaders emphasized their mutual respect and strong alliance forged due to their "historic foundations and unique experience," as Netanyahu put it, anticipating Merkel's visit to Israel in October. 

Hours before the press conference, an anti-Netanyahu protest gathered outside the Chancellery where a few dozen demonstrators chanted "Palestine you will be free, Netanyahu you will see, from the river to the sea."

One speaker at the protest said that "Israel puts over a million people in Zionist concentration camps, yet calls itself the only democracy in the Middle East."