Cabinet Communique
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday, 25 January 2015):

1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks:

"In the coming weeks, the major powers are liable to reach a framework
agreement with Iran, an agreement that is liable to leave Iran as a nuclear
threshold state, which would endanger – first and foremost – the existence
of the State of Israel. This is the same Iran that has taken over Lebanon
and Syria and is now taking over Yemen and Iraq. This is the same Iran that
is preparing an active front against us both on the Golan Heights and in
southern Lebanon. This same Iran cannot advance toward nuclear weapons.

As Prime Minister of Israel, I am obligated to make every effort in order to
prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons that would be aimed at the State
of Israel. This effort is worldwide and I will go anywhere I am invited in
order to enunciate the State of Israel's position and in order to defend its
future and its existence.

I would like to express my condolences to the Japanese Prime Minister and
people following reports of the brutal murder of a Japanese citizen by
Islamic State. Last week, during Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit
to Israel, I told him that the struggle against extremist Islamic terrorism
is a joint struggle and only if we are united will we be able to emerge
victorious. Israel stands alongside Japan and the Japanese people in this
difficult hour.

This week we will mark around the world International Holocaust Remembrance
Day and Struggle against Anti-Semitism Day. Last year we witnessed an
increase in anti-Semitic incidents and a wave of anti-Semitism that is
flooding parts of the world, especially Europe. Against these phenomena the
governments of the world need to act with greater vigor. History has already
shown us that violence that begins against the Jews does not stop with the
Jews. It is like a brushfire that spreads very rapidly to all societies and
all citizens.

At the same time, we must ease the obstacles that impede the immigration of
Jews to the Land of Israel. Israel is the national home of every Jew and we
will act to bring immigrants to the State of Israel."

2. The Cabinet decided to extend the term in office of Naomi Ben-Ami, the
head of the Liaison Bureau (Nativ) in the Prime Minister’s Office, until 1
August 2015.


3. The Cabinet marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day and Struggle
Against Anti-Semitism Day and was briefed by Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs
Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Ministry representative Yuval Rotem,
Jewish Agency for Israel Chairman Natan Sharansky, World Zionist
Organization Chairman Avraham Duvdevani, Yad Vashem Directorate Chairman
Avner Shalev and Tel Aviv University Kantor Center for the Study of
Contemporary European Jewry Director Prof. Dina Porat.

The speakers discussed – inter alia – the increase in Islamic anti-Semitism,
the increase in violent incidents against Jews and the increase in perceived
threats among world Jewish communities, as well as the actions being taken
by their respective institutions to instill awareness of the Holocaust
(including the heroism) in Israel and around the world in the fields of
information, education and awareness among government officials in countries
marked by anti-Semitism. The speakers also discussed the need to strengthen
links with, and support among, Jewish communities, and to boost personal
security. They also referred to preparations to accommodate increased
immigration to Israel.

rime Minister Netanyahu summarized the discussion: “In light of the waves of
anti-Semitism flooding the countries in which Jews live around the world, we
must prepare to absorb large-scale immigration to Israel. To this end we are
working to remove the impediments to [recognizing] diplomas and professional
degrees in Israel. At the same time we will prepare an emergency plan to
cancel bureaucracy so as to enable massive construction to absorb the
immigrants, just as we did previously to absorb the major immigration from
the [former] Soviet Union. This will greatly help in resolving the housing
problem in Israel.”

4. The Cabinet discussed the creation of a human capital base for the public
service sector.