03:33Germany: 'Israel must not acquire nuclear weapons’ - Scholz gaffe during bilateral talks with PM Netanyahu
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz accidentally claimed that 'Israel must not acquire nuclear weapons', when discussing Iran’s nuclear programme, during a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamim Netanyahu following their bilateral talks in Berlin on Thursday.
"We are united in our concern that Iran has taken new steps of escalation and has pursued a very high enrichment of uranium. We are absolutely in agreement with Israel: Israel (sic) must not acquire nuclear weapons. This dangerous conflict must be defused. That is why a diplomatic solution is our top priority," he stated.
Netanyahu himself claimed that Iran was focused on wiping out Israel and that his country would do whatever it took to stop them.
"There’s a fanatical regime that seeks to erase the one and only Jewish state with over 6 million Jews in it, from the face of the Earth," he claimed. "We have a defence and Israel will do what we have to do, to defend ourselves. As I told the Chancellor, the Jewish people will not allow a second Holocaust. The Jewish state will do everything necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Period.”
Last month, media reports claimed the International Atomic Energy Agency had found near weapons-grade uranium - of 84 percent, just below the 90 percent required for a bomb - at the Fordow facility in Iran.
Tehran denied it had intentionally enriched uranium to that purity, said the agency was being used as a 'political tool' and accused Western media outlets of 'smearing and warping facts'.
The Israeli PM also commented on his government’s judicial reforms, which have led to huge protests across Israel since the announcement earlier this year, which continued during the visit.
“Israel is not going to abolish the democratic principle," he claimed. "If the democratic principle we are about to abolish is that judges do not elect judges, do not have veto power in electing judges. Then none of you.. .Germany is not following democratic principles, because judges do not have veto power in Germany, they don't have veto power in many other countries. So it is absurd."
Under the plans, lawmakers would have greater powers of the Supreme Court and in the appointment of judges, which demonstrators claim would undermine democracy.
Netanyahu’s began his trip to Berlin on Wednesday and was expected to stay until Friday, although a subsequent press release announced he would return to Israel on Thursday night. It was unclear if the change was linked to ongoing mass protests.
03:33German Chancellor Olaf Scholz accidentally claimed that 'Israel must not acquire nuclear weapons', when discussing Iran’s nuclear programme, during a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamim Netanyahu following their bilateral talks in Berlin on Thursday.
"We are united in our concern that Iran has taken new steps of escalation and has pursued a very high enrichment of uranium. We are absolutely in agreement with Israel: Israel (sic) must not acquire nuclear weapons. This dangerous conflict must be defused. That is why a diplomatic solution is our top priority," he stated.
Netanyahu himself claimed that Iran was focused on wiping out Israel and that his country would do whatever it took to stop them.
"There’s a fanatical regime that seeks to erase the one and only Jewish state with over 6 million Jews in it, from the face of the Earth," he claimed. "We have a defence and Israel will do what we have to do, to defend ourselves. As I told the Chancellor, the Jewish people will not allow a second Holocaust. The Jewish state will do everything necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Period.”
Last month, media reports claimed the International Atomic Energy Agency had found near weapons-grade uranium - of 84 percent, just below the 90 percent required for a bomb - at the Fordow facility in Iran.
Tehran denied it had intentionally enriched uranium to that purity, said the agency was being used as a 'political tool' and accused Western media outlets of 'smearing and warping facts'.
The Israeli PM also commented on his government’s judicial reforms, which have led to huge protests across Israel since the announcement earlier this year, which continued during the visit.
“Israel is not going to abolish the democratic principle," he claimed. "If the democratic principle we are about to abolish is that judges do not elect judges, do not have veto power in electing judges. Then none of you.. .Germany is not following democratic principles, because judges do not have veto power in Germany, they don't have veto power in many other countries. So it is absurd."
Under the plans, lawmakers would have greater powers of the Supreme Court and in the appointment of judges, which demonstrators claim would undermine democracy.
Netanyahu’s began his trip to Berlin on Wednesday and was expected to stay until Friday, although a subsequent press release announced he would return to Israel on Thursday night. It was unclear if the change was linked to ongoing mass protests.