London – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday in London to discuss the Iranian threat and a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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The meeting lasted only half an hour, reported Haaretz.
While in the capital of the United Kingdom, the Israeli leader is also expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, with whom he is expected to discuss Israel’s defense needs, following a phone conversation on Tuesday.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is also in London for a meeting with Johnson. It’s unclear if Pence will meet with Netanyahu.
“We have the challenge of Iran’s aggression and terrorism, and I’d like to talk to you about how we can work together to counter these things for the benefit of peace,” Netanyahu told Johnson upon arriving at 10 Downing Street, where Johnson now lives and works.
“The U.K. still supports all efforts to reach a solution in the Middle East, and a two-state solution,” responded Johnson.
“I want to talk about that, too,” replied Netanyahu.
Netanyahu also told Johnson, “I want to say that you’ve been a great friend of the Jewish people and Israel. I applaud your staunch stance against anti-Semitism and your support for Israel’s security. Our relations are at an all-time high: economically, trade, technology, defense cooperation. These are all great things.”
Netanyahu’s meetings with Johnson and Esper are the first since the two started their new positions recently.
The meetings come two weeks before the Israeli elections and more than a month until Great Britain possibly heads to the polls as Johnson is expected to call a snap election following the British Parliament likely to pass a bill to block Johnson’s desire for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union without a deal on Oct. 31.
(JNS)