Defense Minister Bnei Gantz held a briefing for more than 60 foreign ambassadors on the security situation in Israel. He called the briefing “Challenges and opportunities for Israel and its allies”. This is Gantz’s third year of briefing foreign ambassadors.
Defense Minister Bnei Gantz at a briefing with ambassadors: “Our assessment shows that the UAV that hit Mercer Street left from Iran – this is further proof that Iran is first and foremost a threat to the region and to the world.”
Gantz added: “Israel has options for action and we knew how to act in the past. – I do not rule out that we will have to act in the future so that Iran does not reach nuclear weapons
During the briefing, the Defense Minister said:. “Iran has an intention to destroy Israel, and they are working hard in order to be able to do so. In addition, they operate through its branches in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza. They use UAVs and precision missiles and even commits cyber-attacks around the world. According to Israeli estimates, the attack on Mercer Street was carried out on Iranian soil, and it is likely that it was done with the approval of the Supreme Leader.”
Iran’s Defense Budget:
Ganz presented the unusual increase in the Iranian defense budget, which has more than doubled in the last five years. It has went from being $ 22 billion to $ 49 billion (according to the real value of the real currency). Ganz said that Israel has no problem with the Iranian people, only with the Iranian regime.
Gantz stressed: “Iran is two months away from accumulating the materials needed for a nuclear bomb. We do not know if the Iranian regime is ready to reach a peaceful agreement and return to the negotiating table.”
He says that “the world must build “a Plan B “and stop Iran’s progress now. The ultimate goal is to reach a peaceful agreement that is “Longer, stronger, and wider”. Iran’s arrival at a nuclear threshold puts us on the brink of a regional and possibly global nuclear arms race. All Iranian aggression so far has been without nuclear weapons. “We in Israel have our options. We have known how to use the means at our disposal in the past, and I do not rule out that we will have to use them in the future. But Iran is first and foremost a challenge to the world. We all need to unite and act.”
Ganz also talks about Lebanon and the Palestinians:
Ganz also mentioned Lebanon, stating that: “Thousands of homes have missile depots in the heart of the civilian population. Iran and Hezbollah are taking advantage of the humanitarian situation in Lebanon, and they are preventing a stable government.”
Regarding the Palestinians, the Defense Minister noted: “The Palestinian Authority and its leadership are the representatives of the Palestinians in the region. We are working to strengthen the Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria: we approve construction, we have expanded employment permits and in the long run we need to promote significant infrastructure projects in Gaza.” “Hamas is harming the population. All that Israel needs is to enable Gaza to develop and reach a long-term settlement. We need them to commit to complete peace in the south of the country.”
