JERUSALEM, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Thursday for action against Iran at the reception for 70th Independence Day for the diplomatic corps held at the president's residence.

"Iran is the enemy of us all -- of Israel, the Arab world, civilization," said Netanyahu.

"Iran openly speaks about liquidating Israel. It encircles the whole Middle East which it wants to conquer, it fires rockets into Riyadh and Saudi Arabia, it is occupying Lebanon effectively, it's trying to inflame Gaza again, it is in Iraq, and it is trying to establish a military base in Syria, which all peace loving nations should resist, speak out against Iran," said Netanyahu.

Netanyahu also encouraged more countries to move embassies to Jerusalem and thanked for U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem.

"There are at least half a dozen countries that are now seriously discussing with us, moving the embassy to Jerusalem," he said. "There will be others to follow."

"First come, first served," added Netanyahu. "I've decided that the first ten embassies to come here will get preferential treatment."

Israel's Independence Day marks the day in which David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.