U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid stood side-by-side Thursday and declared they would not allow Iran to become a nuclear power. They parted ways, though, on how to get there.
Biden, in a joint news conference after a one-on-one meeting with the Israeli leader, said he still wants to give diplomacy a chance. Moments earlier, Lapid insisted that words alone won't thwart Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
"Words will not stop them, Mr. President. Diplomacy will not stop them," Lapid said. "The only thing that will stop Iran is knowing that if they continue to develop their nuclear program the free world will use force.""I don't think there's a light between us," he said. "We cannot allow Iran to become nuclear."
Israel opposed the original nuclear deal because its limitations on Iran's nuclear enrichment would expire and the agreement didn't address Iran's ballistic missile program or military activities in the region. Iran announced last week that it has enriched uranium to 60% purity, a technical step away from weapons-grade quality.
Lapid asked Biden to deliver a message on behalf of Israel to the Arab leaders he'll meet with in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: "Our hand is outstretched for peace."
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