•Netanyahu
In the wake of the Israel-Iran war in June, the Islamic Republic is trying to rebuild its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News’ “Special Report” yesterday.
“Iran is trying to [rebuild its capabilities, and the president was correct when he said that the Fordow thing was obliterated. So they’re trying other sites. They will try that. They’re also trying to recover their ballistic missile production facility. We set them back considerably in both areas, but, yeah, they’ll try.”
The prime minister clarified that he wasn’t sure Iran decided to “cross the line” with its nuclear program in light of US President Donald Trump’s warnings against doing so and its recent experiences in the recent war.
Speaking on the topic of Gaza, Netanyahu pointed to disarmament as the core barrier to proceeding to the second phase of the ceasefire.
“Hamas committed to disarm,” Netanyahu said, adding that the terror organisation still has “about 20,000 people with, basically, Kalashnikov rifles” and “they have, altogether, 60,000 AK rifles.”
He added that Hamas also thus far refuses to dismantle hundreds of kilometres of terror tunnels in Gaza.
The prime minister also pointed to Hamas disarmament, whether through Israeli efforts or the efforts of an International Stabilisation Force, as the key to getting a new governing body in Gaza.
Fox News’ Bret Baier also asked Netanyahu about settler violence in the West Bank, noting that it was rising and represented a threat to regional stability.
Netanyahu pointed to a small number of around 70 young people who were responsible for the violence.
“They’re not from the West Bank,” he said. “They’re actually teenagers who come from broken homes, and they do things like chop the olive trees, and sometimes they try to burn a home. I can’t accept that.”
Nevertheless, Netanyahu claimed the issue was “bloated” and that there was a “false symmetry between the ‘teenagers’ engaging in ‘vigilantism’ and the over one thousand terrorist attacks against the settlers, families, mothers who are driving on the roads with their children.”
The prime minister also spoke about the prospects of expanding the Abraham Accords, saying the chances were “really good.”
Asked specifically about Syria and Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu said it was possible specifically as a result of Israel’s military efforts diminishing Iran and its regional proxies.
“And so people are open to a peace agreement. So I hope we can do that with the Saudis and with others, and, by the way, also with Muslim countries outside the Middle East who are very interested.”
