Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, interviewed at the Davos Economic Forum

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a busy second day at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday. In addition to his many diplomatic meetings, Netanyahu was also interviewed in the central conference room, where he expressed his concern over the recently implemented nuclear deal with Iran and called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to resume peace negotiations with Israel.

Netanyahu’s first meeting was with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. Sources in Netanyahu’s bureau characterized the meeting as „friendly and warm, with an excellent atmosphere.”

Israel Hayom has learned that Netanyahu and Biden discussed an increase in U.S. defense aid to Israel.

Video: Reuters

Netanyahu’s subsequent meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was also summed up as „very good.” Netanyahu and Kerry discussed Syria, Iran and the Islamic State group, and addressed the Palestinian issue. 

Netanyahu showed Kerry a short film featuring examples of Palestinian incitement in an attempt to demonstrate that the incitement in the Palestinian school system and media was a major motivator for terrorism.

The prime minister also met with the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and with Argentine President Mauricio Macri. Members of Netanyahu’s entourage said that the Argentinians were planning to tighten relations with Israel.

Later, speaking to CNN’s Fareed Zakaria in front of an audience, Netanyahu voiced his concern about the recently implemented nuclear agreement between Iran and Western powers.

„There is no connection to the lifting of sanctions or the lifting of restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program to Iran’s behavior. It [Iran] can continue to send its terrorists and its covert armies and overt armies throughout the Middle East, and would have the freedom to enrich as much uranium as it wants. … I hope that I’ll be proven wrong. I hope that Iran will be seen to be a moderate country … changing its internal repression, stopping its external aggression.”

Netanyahu went on to compare Iran to a terrorist organization, saying, „I think Saudi Arabia recognizes … as do many in the Arab world that, they see Israel as an ally rather than an enemy, because of the two principal threats that threaten them. The first is Iran, and the second is [Islamic State].”

Netanyahu also called on Abbas to return to the negotiations table: „I’ve said it every place that I’ve been, and he’s refused to come. And that remains the problem. He wants to go around the negotiating process and have an international diktat at the U.N. or wherever. And that is not the way we’re going to resolve the issue. You have to sit down and negotiate. We’re willing to do it. They’re not. I hope they change their minds.”

The prime minister added that his only goal was to „ensure the future of the Jewish state. I would like to be remembered as the protector of Israel.”

Netanyahu also took part in a unique conference of CEOs and leaders in the cyber field. The conference, attended by representatives from Sony, Intel, IBM, HP and more, focused on various cyber threats and their implications.

According to the prime minister’s bureau, private investment in Israel’s cyber sector comprised some $500 million in 2015, more than twice the amount invested in 2014. As of mid-2015, Israel made up close to 20% of all private investment in the cyber sector worldwide (in second place after the U.S.).

Prime Minister’s Office Director General Eli Gruner, head of the Israel National Cyber Bureau Dr. Eviatar Matania and head of the National Economic Council Professor Avi Simhon also took part in the conference.

In yet another meeting Thursday, Netanyahu met with founder of the Chinese online retailer Alibaba, Jack Ma.

„For some time I’ve been hearing that I need to enter the Israeli market,” Ma told Netanyahu. „I hope to take advantage of that opportunity soon.”