Netanyahu at IDF Officers’ Graduation: "Only Someone Blind Could Say There Have Been No Achievements"

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took part today (Thursday) in the graduation ceremony for the combat officers’ course at Bahad 1. The prime minister delivered remarks at the ceremony, which was also attended by Defense Minister ישראל כ"ץ and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.

As he entered the venue, some in the crowd shouted calls against Netanyahu and called on him to resign. Many others expressed support for him. At the start of his remarks, the prime minister said: "Only someone blind could say, 'there have been no achievements.' I won’t list them all, because I’ll spare you while you’re standing in the blazing sun. There has been a tremendous achievement — the operations 'עם כלביא' and 'שאגת הארי.' But there is still more to carry out, more to do in facing Iran and Hamas."

Netanyahu noted that "the importance of the War of Revival is no less than the importance of the War of Independence. Israel succeeded in breaking through the barrier of fear through initiative and offensive action. If we had not acted in Iran, they would have a nuclear bomb today. We fundamentally changed the rules of the game in the Middle East. With an agreement or without an agreement — Iran will not have nuclear weapons. The State of Israel is at a point of unprecedented strength. Israel is stronger than ever."

Netanyahu also addressed Gaza and Lebanon, adding: "We are tightening our grip on the Gaza Strip from every direction, we have restored security to the communities around Gaza, and the western Negev is once again flourishing and thriving. We will remain in the security zone in Lebanon for as long as necessary. We will not withdraw."

Defense Minister ישראל כ"ץ spoke after the prime minister and declared that the IDF would continue to hold the security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip, without any time limit, in order to protect Israel’s communities and residents from security threats."

כ"ץ emphasized that "the lives of the fighters are a central consideration in every operational decision, and that the political and military leadership will not accept unnecessary risk to IDF soldiers because of operational or political constraints. The defense minister warned that "if Iran attacks Israel, whether following its activity in Lebanon or for any other reason, Israel will respond with great force.".