BREAKING NEWS

PM: Israel an island of democracy in sea of instability

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Thursday night at the annual July 4 celebration at the US ambassador's home in Herzliya that Israel has always been "an island of democracy in a sea of instability and despotism, and this has never been truer than today."
Without addressing the situation in Egypt directly, Netanyahu said that "those who seek liberty are our natural allies."
Netanyahu said that he hopes there will be a time when true democracy will flourish in the region, but this is something that will take time.
US Ambassador Dan Shapiro quoted US President Barack Obama as saying US will do "whatever must" to prevent a nuclear Iran.
Referring to ongoing efforts to revive the peace process, Shapiro said that he expects officials will spend many more hours with US Secretary of State John Kerry in the near future.
Netanyahu, for his part, reiterated his position that he wants to sit down immediately with the Palestinians, and that Israel is not putting any obstacles in the way of the talks.