Netanyahu says Israel expanding Middle East ties, but not with Iran

[December 06, 2017]    JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel is expanding ties throughout the Middle East but not with Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday, accusing his country's arch-foe of trying to dominate the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference in Jerusalem December 6, 2017. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Addressing a Jerusalem diplomatic conference, Netanyahu said Israel has relations "with nearly every single one" of nations that do not formally recognize it, due to their growing need for its economic and security expertise.

"See that country in red? By the way that's not on our list of diplomatic allies," he said, pointing to Iran on a regional map. He deemed Iran an "aggressive regime" seeking nuclear arms and a "land bridge" via its allies to the Mediterranean sea.

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Alison Williams)

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