‘I know you don’t want this war’: Netanyahu appeals to the Iranian people
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an appeal to the Iranian people in a video on Tuesday night, telling them, that “another attack on Israel would simply cripple Iran’s economy.”
Israeli Prime Minister making a direct appeal to the Iranian people in a video released on Nov. 12, 2024. Photo by GPO/TPS-IL
The video followed up on a September video message, after which “many Iranians reached out to Israel,” Netanyahu said.
“Since we last spoke, the Khamenei regime launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at my country, Israel. I wonder: Did he tell you how much that attack cost? Well, I’m not guessing. It’s $2.3 billion. That’s how much of your precious money they wasted on futile attacks,” Netanyahu said.
“The missiles did marginal damage to Israel, but what damage did they do to you? That sum could have added billions to your transportation budget. It could have added billions to your education budget. But instead, Khamenei exposed the regime’s brutality and turned the world against your country. He robbed you of money that should have been yours.”
I want you to imagine – just imagine – how your life could be different if Iran was free. You could speak your mind without fear. You could make a joke without wondering if you’d be carted off to Evin prison. Close your eyes. Picture the faces of your children – beautiful innocent souls. Think of the endless potential they would have. Their entire lives are ahead of them.”
”Imagine how your children’s lives would look if billions of dollars were invested in them instead of being wasted on wars that can’t be won. They would receive world-class education. You would receive beautiful roads. Advanced hospitals. Clean water. You know, Israel has the world’s most advanced desalination system and we’d be happy to help rebuild Iran’s collapsing water infrastructure. These and so many other things are the things that you could have.”
Instead of building Iran, leaders in Tehran “obsess with destroying Israel,” Netanyahu said.
“Another attack on Israel would simply cripple Iran’s economy. It would rob you of many more billions of dollars. I know that you don’t want this war. I don’t want this war either. The people of Israel don’t want this war. There is one force putting your family in grave danger: the tyrants of Tehran. That’s it.”
Netanyahu added that while the world “has seen but a fraction of our power,” Tehran fears the Iranian people more than Israel.
“That’s why they spend so much time and money trying to crush your hopes and curb your dreams,” he said.
“I have no doubt that one day in a free Iran, Israelis and Iranians will build together a future of prosperity and peace.”
Following Netanyahu’s September message, ordinary Iranians took to social media with messages of solidarity with Israel. The hashtag #TnxBBfromIran — short for Thanks Bibi from Iran — began appearing in comments on Netanyahu’s video on social media.
