Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured the Hatzor military base, where he was briefed by Israel Air Force (IAF) Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi.
“The Air Force operates in a 360-degree radius against the threats to the State of Israel,” said Netanyahu, after a base tour, stressing that “95% of these threats originate in Iran.”
The Israeli Premier then specified that the Islamic Republic “threatens us with nuclear weapons, precision missiles and unguided missiles, with proxies in Lebanon and Gaza, and in other places.”
He then went on to praise IAF operations against Tehran’s orchestrated efforts in the region, including Israel’s southern front by the Iranian-backed Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
“I would like to make it clear to all of Iran’s proxies, including in Gaza: Balloon terrorism will have a heavy price. We will not tolerate this. We will take action and exact a heavy price. They should remember that we have done this in the past, because we will do it now as well,” said Netanyahu, regarding the surge of incendiary attacks in recent days.
Netanyahu also seized the opportunity to urge his coalition partners – including Alternate Premier and Defense Minister Benny Gantz in particular – to pass a state budget which is vital for the sustainability of Israel’s qualitative military edge.