Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu released a response to the resolution of the hostage crisis in Sydney on Monday night, after three people were killed and four injured in a police raid on a cafe held by an Islamist.
"I would like to send my condolences to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and to the Australian people over the loss of innocent life," Netanyahu stated, speaking from Rome.
Earlier Monday, New South Wales police identified "hate sheikh" Man Haron Monis, 49, as the gunman responsible for bringing terror to Australia after he held 17 people hostage in the Lindt Chocolat Cafe for over 16 hours.
"International Islamic terrorism knows no borders; therefore, the struggle against it must be global," Netanyahu stressed.
Netanyahu then noted progress on Israel's own struggles with terrorism: international pressure being levied by the UN and other Western powers on Jerusalem to succumb to the demands of the Palestinian Authority (PA)-Hamas unity government.
"This afternoon I met with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi," he said. "This was our first meeting since he was elected Prime Minister and it was very good. Israel and Italy have much in common and many joint interests and we decided to expand cooperation in very many areas and on all levels."
"I come here from a serious conversation with US Secretary of State John Kerry," he continued. "We discussed a range of issues including Iran, Syria, the war against ISIS and others. Of course, we also discussed at length the Palestinian issue."
"I very much appreciate the Secretary of State's efforts to prevent a deterioration in the region," he stated. "I said that the attempts of the Palestinians and of several European countries to force conditions on Israel will only lead to a deterioration in the regional situation and will endanger Israel; therefore, we will strongly oppose this."
The statement was considerably more muted than Netanyahu's remarks in the Cabinet Sunday, where he said that he would adamantly oppose international pressure to force Israel into a peace agreement.
"Until now we have successfully withstood and repelled these attacks and now we also stand against the possibility of a diplomatic assault, i.e. an attempt to compel us – by means of UN decisions – to withdraw to the 1967 lines within two years," Netanyahu said. "This will lead to Islamic extremists in the suburbs of Tel Aviv and to the heart of Jerusalem."
"We will not allow this," he vowed. "We will strongly and responsibly rebuff this. Let there be no doubt, this will be rejected."