While calling for a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear agenda, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood their ground concerning Israel’s preemptive approach to confronting the Islamic Republic’s growing aggression.
Though a pair of Israel’s top leaders may see things from the opposite end of the political spectrum, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz share at least one key thing in common – the seriousness of confronting Iran’s agenda for the Middle East. The two leaders made separate comments on Thursday reaffirming Israel’s readiness to proactively confront the Iranian regime militarily if necessary.
Gantz, in an interview with Fox News, voiced his desire for a diplomatic resolution to the current circumstances regarding Iran, but acknowledged that until a solution surfaces (if ever), Israel is prepared to take any necessary action. He said, “If the world stops them before, it’s much the better. But if not, we must stand independently and we must defend ourselves by ourselves.”
When asked if Israel already has preparations in place to strike the Islamic Republic, Gantz stressed that preparations are never final until the time of the strike. He also stated that he believes one of Iran’s primary terror proxies, Hezbollah, currently obtains “hundreds of thousands” of missiles.
Netanyahu has vowed on several occasions never to allow the Iranian regime to obtain nuclear weapons – something that he repeated in his segment with Fox News on Thursday as well. In what were no soft words, Netanyahu said, “But one thing I believe he understands and respects, is that as the prime minister of the one and only Jewish state, we are not going to let a bunch of ayatollahs wipe us out from the face of the earth or from the map of history.”
The Iranians have been threatening to increase their violations concerning the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Iran nuclear deal. Especially upon the arrival of the new US administration.
