Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the site of a missile impact in Arad on Sunday, delivering a forceful warning about Iran’s growing military reach and intentions, as President Isaac Herzog separately toured the scene and emphasized Israeli resilience.

Standing at the impact site, Netanyahu said the past 48 hours have provided clear evidence of the global danger posed by Iran.

“If you want proof that Iran endangers the entire world, the last 48 hours have given it. In the last 48 hours, Iran targeted a civilian area. They’re doing that as a mass murder weapon. Luckily, no one was killed, but that’s due to luck, not their intention. Their intention is to murder civilians.

Second, they are using, they fired on Jerusalem right next to the holy sites of the three monotheistic faiths, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. And by dint of a miracle, again, none of them were hurt, but they were targeting the holy sites of the three major monotheistic religion. Third, they fired an intercontinental ballistic missile on Diego Garcia. That’s 4,000 kilometers. I’ve been warning all the time. They have now the capacity to reach deep into Europe. They already have fired on European countries, Cyprus. They are putting everyone in their sights. and fourth, they’re stopping a maritime international route, energy route and trying to blackmail the entire world.

What more proof do you need that this regime that threatens the entire world has to be stopped? Israel and the United States are working together for the entire world. And it’s time to see the leaders of the rest of the countries join up. I’m happy to say that I can see some of them beginning to move in that direction, but more is needed. President Trump’s call to have the international community confront this terrorist, fanatic regime of zealots, that is a call not only for the security of America and the security of Israel, it’s for the security of the entire world. And it’s time for them to act”.

Netanyahu stressed that Israel’s response is focused on military and regime targets rather than civilians.

“We’re responding with great force, but not on civilians. We’re going after the regime. We’re going after the IRGC, this criminal gang, and we’re going after them personally, their leaders, their installations, their economic assets. We’re going after them very strongly”.

He outlined Israel’s strategic objectives moving forward.

“We’ve defined two clear goals. One is to break completely their nuclear program, break completely their missile program, break completely their capacity to produce the components for both of these programs. We’re well on our way in achieving it. We’ve also set a goal of creating conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow this tyranny that has tormented them and made life miserable, and is making life miserable for the entire world. And I hope we achieve that too”.

“I think President Trump knows exactly what he’s doing, and whatever we do, we do together and as far as possible in confidence”.

President Isaac Herzog also visited the impact site in Arad, describing the destruction caused by the Iranian missile and reiterating the broader threat.

“We’re here in Arad, and as you can see, this clearly is a site that shows the havoc from a half-ton missile from Iran.

“As you know, the Iranians do not differentiate between Muslims and Jews and Christians or between the elderly and the young. All civilians are there to be killed and destroyed, but we are here to show something else: we are ever resilient.

“It’s no secret to all of you that Iran is now deploying all of its capabilities. Remember that they denied that they have missiles all the way to the United States. Well, you’ve seen it in the launch at Diego Garcia, over 4000 kilometers, 2500 miles. That means that they will employ and deploy all their capabilities in order to scare all of us. But this doesn’t really work. On the contrary, it shows us what a cruel regime it is and what kind of danger it is — which is what we’ve been saying to the world for way over a generation.

“That is why this head of the snake, this evil empire, must be stopped. That’s why we’re in this war. I sincerely trust the resilience of Israelis and the people of Arad. This place will be fully rebuilt.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)