Netanyahu: Iranian Activities Will Trigger New Wave of Refugees to Europe
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, said in a meeting with Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, that Iranian activities in the Middle East could lead to the creation of another wave of refugees.
The Israeli Prime Minister, who traveled to Germany to encourage the European Union to withdraw from the international nuclear deal (JCPOA), again warned on Monday, June 5, during a press conference with Angela Merkel about Iranian regional activities.
The Israeli Prime Minister said that Iran, with the reduction of sanctions, is funding conflicts in the Middle East.
Benjamin Netanyahu added: “This will lead to the ignition of religious warfare, and its consequences will be far more refugees, and you know exactly where they will come from.”
Mr. Netanyahu did not provide further clarification on this matter, but following the escalation of conflicts between Shiite and Sunni groups in the Middle East with the support of Iran and Saudi Arabia in recent years, a very large number of people from Syria, Iraq, and Yemen have been displaced and become refugees.
Ms. Merkel also said in a Berlin press conference that she agrees with the Israeli Prime Minister that “Iranian movements in the Middle East and Iran’s regional influence is a concerning issue, particularly for Israel’s security.”
In 2015, Germany and other European countries faced a wave of refugees, which in turn strengthened right-wing parties in Europe.
Many of these refugees were Syrian citizens fleeing the civil war.
Iran, along with its allied Shiite groups and Russia, supports the government of Bashar al-Assad against rebels and jihadist groups.
Israel has repeatedly bombed the positions of groups allied with Bashar al-Assad and stated it will not tolerate their presence in Syria.
The Islamic Republic of Iran considers its support for proxy groups in the region as supporting the “axis of resistance against global arrogance” and the “enemy,” but Western powers describe these activities as a threat to their allies and Middle Eastern stability.
The Israeli Prime Minister continued his remarks, saying that Iran wants to convert Sunnis to Shiism through Shiite militias.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 400,000 people have been killed or gone missing during Syria’s seven-year war.
During this period, more than half of Syria’s population of 22 million has been forced to leave their homes.
Approximately six million and 100,000 of this number have experienced internal displacement, and approximately five million and 600,000 have fled abroad.
Source: Radio Farda
