Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and British Prime Minister Theresa May on June 6, 2018. Photo: Haim Zach/GPO.

JNS.org – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked for British Prime Minister Theresa May’s help in how to “roll back Iran’s aggression” in the Middle East.

Netanyahu told his British counterpart that he believes that there are “ways to work together to achieve both goals.”

Netanyahu, who is on the last leg of his European tour that took him to France and Germany earlier this week, has been courting the leaders of Europe’s most powerful countries on ways to stop Iran’s growing presence in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East. At the same time, the visit comes despite differences with the European powers over the Iranian nuclear deal. All three countries remain committed to the deal, even after the recent American pullout.

“Along with France and Germany, the UK continues to believe that is the best route to preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon,” said May. “We will remain committed to it as long as Iran meets its obligations.”

However, May added that “we do recognize that there are other issues that need to be addressed in relation to Iran—its destabilizing regional activity in countries like Syria and Yemen, and also the proliferation of ballistic missiles.”

May also expressed concern over the deaths of Palestinians last month along the Israel-Gaza border.

“We have been concerned about the loss of Palestinian lives,” she said.

Netanyahu said the blame for the deaths lays at the hands of Hamas and the terror group’s goal of destroying Israel.

“As far as Gaza is concerned, I think the problems there are rooted in the fundamental goal of Hamas to destroy Israel. We’re not witnessing peaceful protests. In addition to burning our fields, these people are being paid for and pushed by Hamas to try to break into Israel’s defenses, kill as many Israelis as they can, right next to our border, and kidnap our soldiers,” said Netanyahu.

“This is not a non-violent protest; quite the contrary,” he added. “We are doing everything we can to both minimize casualties, and at the same time, protect Israeli lives.”