Abbas ‘needs to choose whose side he’s on’ — PM says

Netanyahu says the international community has noticed that the Arab world didn’t rally behind Hamas during the conflict.

“This is a change, we didn’t have this in the past,” he says, saying formerly enemy states are now partners in combating radical Islamists in the Middle East.

Netanyahu says regional cooperation to destroy Islamic State would pave the way for “new opportunities.”

Abbas “needs to choose whose side he’s on,” and we hope he will continue to seek peace with Israel, Netanyahu says.

We will always seek peace partners to resolve the conflict, he says.

“We would be happy if Abbas’s forces would enter Gaza.”

Asked what Israel would do if Hamas restarted tunnel digging tomorrow, Netanyahu says Israel “always has the right to self-defense.”

He says “we’ll wait and see” what new diplomatic opportunities are available. “We’re checking.”