Netanyahu hints Israel won’t shy away from military action against Iran

“Our policy is clear and consistent: whoever tries to harm us will suffer a crushing blow.”

By TOVAH LAZAROFF

DECEMBER 23, 2020 21:23

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted that Israel would not shy away from military action against Iran when he spoke at the graduation ceremony for new IAF pilots on Wednesday.

“We will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said.

We do not take lightly the threats made against us, nor do we shy away from them,” Netanyahu said.

“Our policy is clear and consistent: whoever tries to harm us will suffer a crushing blow.

“In the face of danger, the air force is ready to act forcefully – at any range, in any arena and on any target,” Netanyahu stated.

He promised that Israel would stand firm against Iran’s nuclear program and its entrenchment in Syria.

“We will continue to act against attempts by Iran and its proxies to establish military bases in Syria. We will not compromise on this issue,” he said.

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Nor will Israel compromise on the steps needed to prevent it enemies from developing precision missiles and placing them in Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere, Netanyahu said.

His words echoed statements made by IDF Chief-of-Staff Chief Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi at an awards ceremony on Monday.

“We are hearing more and more threats against Israel coming from Iran,” Kochavi said. “If Iran and its partners… attack the State of Israel, they will [pay] a heavy price.”

Tensions have increased between Iran and Israel, as well as between Tehran and Washington, in advance of the change of administrations in the White House on January 20 when Joe Biden takes over from US President Donald Trump.

Israel is concerned that US policy on Iran is about to undergo a sea-change under the incoming Biden administration, which Israel fears will make conciliatory gestures toward Iran. Satellite images obtained by AP last week showed construction work at Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear facility, seemed to lend credence to the concern that Iran has pushed forward with its weapons program.