Netanyahu meets with Rwandan president to discuss African refugees
Israeli PM agreed with President Paul Kagame, 'who made clear that he would only accept a process that fully complies with international law,' Prime Minister's Office says; Netanyahu also meets with French President Macron in Davos to discuss Iran deal.
Meeting in Davos ahead of the World Economic Forum's annual summit, the two leaders discussed the issue, and Netanyahu agreed with President Kagame, "who made clear that he would only accept a process that fully complies with international law," according to a press release from the Prime Minister's Office.
Netanyahu and Kagame also discussed other issues, among them expanding cooperation between the two countries.
Earlier this week, the Rwandan government issued a statement in which it again denied having signed a secret deal with Israel concerning the illegal migrants.
"In reference to the rumors that have been recently spread in the media, the Government of Rwanda wishes to inform that it has never signed any secret deal with Israel regarding the relocation of African migrants," a statement from the Rwandan government said on Monday, after some 2,000 asylum seekers protested outside its embassy in Israel.
"In this regard, Rwanda’s policy vis-à-vis Africans in need of a home, temporary or permanent, within our country's means, remains 'open doors.'"
The government of Rwanda further reiterated its "firm determination to contribute, as much as possible, to the issue of men, women and children who find themselves on the treacherous road of exile."
"Rwanda is ready to help in whatever limited way it can, by welcoming anyone arriving at its borders in need of a home, voluntarily and without any constraint," the government added.
Three weeks ago, Rwanda's Deputy Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe told The Associated Press his country has never reached any agreement with Israel on hosting asylum seekers. Uganda issued a similar denial.
While in Davos, Netanyahu met with several other world leaders to discuss the Iranian nuclear deal—in the wake of US President Donald Trump's ultimatum to fix the "terrible flaws" in the agreement—as well as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the situation in Syria.
In his meeting with French President Emanuel Macron, Netanyahu expressed his view that the nuclear agreement cannot be left as is since it would—within several years—lead to Iran going nuclear with an arsenal of nuclear weapons. Netanyahu emphasized Israel's commitment to preventing this from happening, noting the failures of the nuclear deal should be addressed.
He also stressed to Macron that "The partnership between us is also important for the security of Europe."
Earlier in the day, the prime minister met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel and Swiss President Alain Berset, and tried to convince them to push for changes to the nuclear agreement with Iran, stressing the need for real changes rather than cosmetic ones.
Netanyahu is set to meet with President Trump on Thursday, with whom he will also discuss the Iranian deal.
Next week, Trump is set to meet in Washington with representatives of UN Security Council member states and try to convince them to support comprehensive and significant changes to the agreement.
The Americans will present the representatives of the four other permanent member states and 10 alternating member states with evidence of the weaponry being manufactured in Iran in an effort to demonstrate the danger Tehran poses.
Meanwhile, Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, will disclose to the Security Council on Thursday new intelligence on Iran.
"Iran is the most dangerous terror superpower in the world," Danon said ahead of the council meeting. "The Iranian regime has been trying for years to obtain nuclear weapons, and its intentions today are more destructive than ever. The international community must not turn a blind eye to this dangerous threat, and it should put all of its weight behind efforts to prevent the Iranian regime from destabilizing stability in the Middle East."
