Netanyahu: Israel in Golan for good

JERUSALEM, May 8 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country is in the Golan Heights to stay.

Netanyahu told Russian-language reporters at a briefing Thursday that Israel would resist demands to withdraw from the Golan, Haaretz reported Friday. The prime minister, who is scheduled to visit Washington in 10 days, suggested that includes demands from President Barack Obama.

"Remaining on the Golan will ensure Israel has a strategic advantage in cases of military conflict with Syria," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu called Iran's nuclear program "a major obstacle to peace in the Middle East." He said he hopes to make that clear to Obama.

"If Iran turns into a nuclear power they will force all Arab states to ally with it, and the extreme Iranian regime that revealed its plan to eliminate Israel will not allow Arab states to normalize relations with Israel," Netanyahu said.