(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
 
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Wednesday, 14 January 2015), met with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo y Marfil. Intelligence Minister Dr. Yuval Steinitz also attended the meeting. At the start of the meeting, the Prime Minister made the following remarks:
 
"I just came back from Paris where I marched with Prime Minister Rajoy and other world leaders in a show of unity against terrorism.
 
I know that you've experiences terrorist attacks. You had, I think, a decade ago, it was a great attack of terrorism, and of course we support it in Israel, all the efforts of the Spanish people to fight this. We think this is a common battle, and I think the march on the streets of Paris was a reflection of a desire to see unity in the battle against terrorism.
 
I have to say that marching is not enough. We have to fight the terrorists, and we also have to fight the inconsistencies in battling terrorists. Because I think the war of terror can only be won if we defeat the hypocrisy that is attached to it.
 
And I particularly refer to the statements made yesterday by the Turkish President Erdogan. He said that Israel should not have been represented in the march in Paris, and the reason he gave were the actions we took to defend ourselves against the thousands of rockets launched at our cities by Hamas terrorists.
 
I think these actions, these statements of the Turkish President should be reputed by all those who want to carry on the fight against terrorism. Because I think this battle requires clarity: Those who perpetrate terrorists and those who support them should be condemned, and those who fight terrorism should be supported.
 
I think that's the first stage. Everything else follows from it, and I hope that we'll continue our common battle against terrorism and against radical Islam that threatens our common civilization."




  Copyright: GPO/Mark Neiman

(Communicated by the Office of the President)

President Reuven Rivlin today (Wednesday) held a working meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo y Marfil. During the meeting, the Foreign Minister extended an invitation to President Rivlin on behalf of King Felipe VI to make a state visit to Spain.
 
President Rivlin began by speaking about the good relations between the two states. He said, "We greatly appreciate the efforts of Spain to restart the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Spain is an important friend, and just as between friends, even when there are differences of opinion, our friendship remains."
 
The President spoke of the importance of rebuilding in Gaza, "The rehabilitation of Gaza is as much an Israeli interest as it is an international interest. Although, we must ensure that the resources are not used by Hamas to rebuild the tunnels and their terrorist infrastructure."
 
Foreign Minister José Garcia-Mallargo y Marfil spoke of the new role of Spain as a member of the UN Security Council. He said, "There is no doubt that the issue of the recognition a Palestinian state will return in the future. We believe that unilateral steps will not lead to an end of the conflict, but that negotiations, with the support of the international community, are the only way forward. We have asked both sides to avoid unilateral steps."
 
The Foreign Minister also noted the President is known to be a fan of soccer, and said he would be keen to know whether he preferred Real Madrid or Barcelona. The President responded, "My grandchildren are very divided on this. As a soccer fan, I appreciate the way Barcelona play, but I must say, I have been a fan of Real Madrid for many years."  Foreign Minister Garcia-Mallargo y Marfil was pleased to hear this and said he was a fan of the club himself.