Netanyahu: Iran and Hezbollah Tried to Impose an Unacceptable New Equation

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a public statement today, Monday, about a day after Iran began firing at Israel and several hours after the announcement of a ceasefire.

Netanyahu addressed threats from Tehran that it would resume firing if Israel attacked in Lebanon, saying, "Over the past day, Iran and Hezbollah tried to impose on us a new equation, it is unbearable and beyond what I can accept." "Iran and Hezbollah are weaker than ever and we are stronger than ever, but our struggle with them is not over," the prime minister added. "They thought they could fire from Lebanon and Iran at Israel and that we would not act, that did not happen and will not happen. I firmly stand by our right to act against our enemies, and that is what we did now as well."

According to Netanyahu, "At the moment, the fire on this front has been stopped because after we struck the terror regime in Iran, it is too weak to attack us." The prime minister added in his filmed statement, "If the regime makes a mistake and resumes attacking us, we will respond with force, because Israel has full right to self-defense and we exercise it as much as necessary. I say this with appreciation and respect in my good conversations with my friend President Trump."

Defense Minister Israel Katz also responded to the Iranian threats, saying, "The Dahieh in Beirut will be treated the same as the northern communities. Any attack on the northern communities will lead to an attack on the Dahieh. The IDF will continue to operate in Lebanon against Hezbollah. We reject Iran's threats outright. Any Iranian attempt to link Lebanon and Iran and attack Israel will be met with great force, as happened yesterday."

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was critical, saying, "The past day will be remembered in Israel's history as the beginning of the normalization of drip attacks from Iran. Here is the reality that must be said, the people of Israel here are capable of defeating, but this government is not. Netanyahu is incapable of defeating on any front. Not in Gaza, not in Lebanon and not in Iran. Things can be fixed when you are not dependent only on politics, and then you can defeat the enemy and propel Israel forward."

As noted, Iran announced earlier today that it was ending its attacks against Israel. The Revolutionary Guards' emergency headquarters said, "We announce the suspension of the armed forces' operations, but if the aggression and wickedness continue, including in southern Lebanon, much more severe and crushing measures will be on the way."

According to them, "The firing at Israel was in response to the Israeli attack in the Dahieh."