"Netanyahu: Israel helps defend the West from radical Islam"

Israel Hayom

Twenty-five-member Republican delegation meets with prime minister • Netanyahu says that Iran gives weapons, money and training to the the terrorists firing rockets into Israel, expresses appreciation for U.S. assistance in deployment of Iron Dome system.
Shlomo Cesana Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday met with 25 visiting U.S. Republican Congressmen and told them that Israel and the U.S. stand united in the struggle against radical Islam.

"Radical Islamic terror attacks Israel and sees it as part of Western culture led by the U.S.," Netanyahu told the visiting lawmakers. "They are right in that regard: We stand together against those who wish to destroy the culture of freedom throughout the world," Netanyahu said.

The 25-member delegation is led by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), and Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, Tom Price (R-Ga.). They are among 81 U.S. lawmakers to visit Israel this month in several delegations.

Netanyahu went on to express his great appreciation for the financial and military aid the U.S. provides for Israel's security, including the U.S.-funded Iron Dome anti-rocket defense system, which has intercepted about 20 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israeli cities during the past weekend's flare-up of violence.

"When Israel defends itself, it is also defending the common interests of the Western world against the spread of radical Islam," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu continued to tie the recent escalation in violence between Israel and the terrorists in Hamas-ruled Gaza to Iranian involvement. "Those who are firing rockets into Israel are supported by Iran in the form of weapons, money and training," he said. "They are an Iranian offshoot on our borders. Just as Iran threatens us, so too does it threaten the U.S.," Netanyahu added.

Cantor responded to the multi-pronged terror attacks that shook southern Israel last Thursday in an exclusive interview last week with Israel Hayom. “Our emphasis is always on the security of Israel and the well-being of its citizens," Cantor said. "The attacks in the south illustrate what Israel's priorities must be: first off, to protect its citizens and preserve security. It is a difficult and challenging task. American interests for regional security go hand-in-hand with those of Israel."

Earlier this month, a Democratic delegation, including Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, also visited Israel. Hoyer vowed that the U.S.'s economic woes would not affect its annual $3 billion financial aid package to Israel.

During the meeting with the Democratic delegation, Netanyahu told them Israel is ready and willing to re-launch peace negotiations with the Palestinians without any preconditions, and telling them the Palestinian bid to seek U.N. approval for a unilateral declaration of statehood this September is detrimental to the peace process.