Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday evening that Israel will remain in the security buffer zones as long as necessary to protect its security. He also reiterated that without Israeli action against Iran, Tehran would have had nuclear bombs — and that Israel saved itself from annihilation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday evening that Israel will remain in security buffer zones "as long as required" to defend its security, according to reports by Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh (N13 / Army Radio). The statement came minutes after a press conference in which he declared Israel had removed the threat of annihilation and vowed Iran would not obtain nuclear weapons. At 21:03 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported Netanyahu's vow that "Iran will not get nuclear weapons — we removed the threat of annihilation." One minute later, at 21:04, he reiterated that stance, adding that Israel had saved itself from an immediate existential danger. At 21:06, he said the most important achievement was saving Israel from a nuclear annihilation threat.
Netanyahu's buffer-zone remark — the first explicit time-frame commitment on the topic in this evening's statements — appeared directed at the fronts with Lebanon and Syria, where Israel has established buffer areas. He did not specify whether the comment signals a change in defensive posture or reiterates current policy. The prime minister has previously said Israel would not withdraw from security zones in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and northern Samaria (The Zioneer, Jun 12, 17:42 Jerusalem).
On the Iran front, Netanyahu's statements Monday evening echo and reinforce a thread running through the past week. On Jun 8 at 18:18 Jerusalem he said the Iran front fire was contained; at 18:34 that day he said Israel had eliminated the nuclear threat and would respond forcefully if Iran attacks. On Jun 12 at 15:22 he called preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons a 30-year personal mission. And on Jun 12 at 17:42 he said he had spoken with President Trump, who committed that the final deal would include removal of enriched material, limits on missile production, and an end to Iran's support for proxies.
It remains unclear whether Netanyahu's buffer-zone statement refers to a new operational directive or is a reiteration of standing policy. He did not provide new operational details on either the buffer zones or the Iran front.
3 developments
- DevelopingNetanyahu: 'We maintain freedom of action to protect northern residents'
- DevelopingNetanyahu: Iran front fire contained, warns of forceful response if attacks resume
- StrongNetanyahu: Iran will not get nuclear weapons — with or without a deal
- StrongNetanyahu warned ministers: No immunity, not in Beirut nor Tehran
Source and signal
- Internal intake