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Netanyahu: The Enemy: Militant Islam; Their Method: Terrorism

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JERUSALEM, Israel -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told an international audience of foreign diplomats that Israel stands by France and defined the common enemy France, Israel and the world face today. 

"First of all, we stand and we do not fall. Even though, our numbers may be occasionally decimated by the barbarians, our countries are strong and we stand," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu and the French Ambassador to Israel Patrick Maisonnave attended the Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Netanyahu told the ambassador that Israel stands shoulder-to-shoulder with France, "committed to defend our common civilization."

"It's difficult for civilized men and women to recognize that our cities, our airways, sometimes our waterways are prowled by beasts that devour the innocent in their way. And the forces of civilization, when they realize the severity of this problem, have no option but to unite very clearly and defeat these beasts," he said.

"The beasts increasingly have a name – it is radical Islam. That is what is doing the killing, the murder, the rape, the burning, the beheadings. We must stand together and fight together militant Islam. The people of Israel grieve with you, the people of Israel stand with you. Now and always," he added.

Netanyahu and Maisonnave joined conference participants in standing for a moment of silence to honor the victims of the Paris terror attacks.

After the Paris attacks, Israel lowered its flags to half mast, and now on the streets of Jerusalem, the city is flying the French tri-color. 

"We are not awakening to a new reality but mainly struggling like many other nations to adapt to a new phenomenon characterized by foreign fighters, who are converging to Iraq and Syria today," Maisonnave told participants.

"Fighting Daish is our priority," he said.

"Terrorism is terrorism not only when it affects us on such a horrendous scale, but also when it affects Israel," the ambassador added.

During a question and answer session from the stage, Netanyahu defined terrorism. 

"Terrorism is the deliberate and systematic targeting of the innocent, of civilians, of non-combatants for a political or ideological ends. This is what defines terrorism. It's always evil," he said.

Netanyahu said the international community often tries to make excuses for Palestinians when they attack Israel. But Netanyahu said it's all the same.

"The enemy is militant Islam.  Its method so far is terrorism.  It is in the business of acquired states. One already exists. It's called the Islamic State of Iran. The second is being established. It's called the Islamic State of ISIS, Daish. And with states, Islamic militants can have a base from which to launch much greater and more lethal terrorism," he said.

The prime minister said there's only one way to fight militant Islam:

"What is the system to fight them? One thing… fight them! Identify, condemn, fight," Netanyahu said.

"I am saying you're not going to change them; you will not win them over; you will not pacify them. The only way to defeat this is the way Naziism was defeated. First you defeat. Then you de-Nazify. That's the order; that's the priority."

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