Netanyahu Discusses Iran, Gaza, and Media in Candid Interview

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu granted an informal interview to i24NEWS anchor Noa Dori, accompanying her for a workday that included a helicopter flight to the Gaza border area and visits to southern Israeli towns like Ofakim, Sderot, and Ashkelon. During the unbuttoned conversation, Netanyahu addressed a range of pressing issues.

Regarding Iran, Netanyahu stated his belief that the Iranian regime is on "chicken legs" and predicted its downfall, asserting that Israeli intelligence systems are actively working towards its collapse. He reiterated Israel's actions against Iran, describing them as striking "the head of the octopus" and "cutting off the arms" of the "axis of evil."

On the topic of Gaza, Netanyahu claimed Israel has "absolute control over more than 60% of the Gaza Strip" and that the objective of dismantling, demilitarizing, and preventing Gaza from posing a threat to Israel has "largely been achieved." He envisions Gaza in five to ten years as a region from which "no one even thinks of attacking us" due to Israel's complete security control.

Discussing the upcoming elections, Netanyahu framed the central issue as "the existence of the state," contrasting the potential threat of Iranian nuclear bombs with the events of October 7th, which he argued could have been prevented. He questioned who was best positioned to complete the task of securing the state, implying a contrast between himself and those who initially opposed certain actions.

Netanyahu also addressed the public's perception of him, noting a stark contrast between the "love" he receives on the street and the "intense hatred" he perceives in some media outlets, which he characterized as "propaganda machines."