Defence Minister Benny Gantz speaks on Iranian threat
Israel’s Minister of Defence Benny Gantz on Monday issued a strongly worded statement calling once again on world nations to recognize the growing threat of a nuclear powered Iran.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz at a meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee in Jerusalem on Oct. 19, 2021. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
Israel’s leaders, from its Defense Minister to Prime Minister, have been making the case that Iran poses a threat not just to Israel, but to the entire world since their government was formed in June.
In this respect, Israel’s current government led by Naftali Bennett is continuing with at least one of the more important policies set by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his long tenure in office.
For example, on Monday TPS reported on how the UK’s Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss and Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid together vowed, “We will work day and night to prevent the Iranian regime from ever becoming a nuclear power. They added a warning that, “time is running out, the clock is ticking.”
Lapid has been speaking out on the Iranian nuclear threat in his public statements since assuming office.
When meeting with their foreign counterparts and ambassadors from abroad Israel’s cabinet ministers have been adding comments about the Iranian threat into their discussions about whatever field of government they handle.
Naftali Bennett did the same during his meetings with various world leaders at the recent UN climate conference held in Glasgow.
Regarding the possibility that a new nuclear agreement with Iran might be reached Gantz said, “In the past days, Israeli teams have shared intelligence with our friends around the world that points to Iran’s current process of dashing towards a nuclear weapon, blatantly violating the agreement that is in place with Europe.”
“To our partners, I stress – the time that passes must have a price expressed in sanctions or military alternatives so that Iran will stop its nuclear race and its regional aggression.”
Gantz said that Israel does not oppose the continuation of negotiations with Iran on the matter, but warned world governments not to let Iran use such negotiations as a stalling tactic.
“We recognize the international community’s work to reach a diplomatic solution with the Iranians,” he said, “yet we must continue, as a strong and independent country to maintain the capability to defend ourselves.”
TPS
