Jerusalem - You can forgive Benjamin Netanyahu for being rather focused on security during his meeting with Gov. Nathan Deal this morning.
The Israeli prime minister met with Deal, Attorney General Sam Olens and several aides for 40 minutes as his government faces mounting pressure to rescue three kidnapped Israeli teens whose plight has galvanized his country. And after another Israeli teen's death from a rocket attack at Syria's border, there's growing fears that the sectarian violence in Iraq and Syria could threaten Israel.
Netanyahu, after briefing the delegation on the crisis, expressed interest in building an alliance with Georgia schools and firms specializing in cybersecurity. Board of Regents Chancellor Hank Huckaby, who was at the meeting, said he would work with Israeli counterparts to do so.
Deal said he was impressed by Netanyahu, an American-trained conservative who speaks flawless English.
"He's a very competent man, a very smart man," said Deal. "And he wants to make sure we don't let the wrong people win the battles going on."
As for any broader agreements during the meeting, Deal said there was little headway.
"We didn't solve the Middle East peace crisis," he chuckled.
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