Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen Warns Iran Will Pay Heavy Price for Attacking Israel
Israeli Energy Minister and Cabinet member Eli Cohen stated in an interview with Channel 7 that Iran understands it will face severe consequences if it attacks Israel. He emphasized the need for heightened alertness due to ongoing Iranian activities and noted that Iran prefers to strike U.S. allies in the region, such as Saudi Arabia via the Houthis, rather than Israel directly. Cohen highlighted the resilience of Israel's energy infrastructure despite Iranian attempts to damage power stations, mentioning the loss of seven energy sector workers in these attacks but expressing confidence in continued protection efforts through fortification and resource stockpiling.
Regarding Lebanon, Cohen asserted that any Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory will only occur after Hezbollah is disarmed. He praised the Lebanese government's recent stance against Hezbollah's presence as a significant achievement for Israeli deterrence. Cohen criticized the previous Israeli government's maritime agreement with Lebanon, describing it as a humiliating concession to Hezbollah and Lebanon, and confirmed that canceling this agreement remains under consideration despite political transitions.
On the Palestinian Authority's militarization, Cohen acknowledged ongoing discussions and security operations that have reduced violence in the West Bank. He stressed that Israel continues to enforce effective control and sovereignty in the area, citing the growth of settlements to nearly one million residents and infrastructure developments such as gas lines and power stations.
Responding to Saudi Arabia's demands for Israel to halt settlement expansion and change its leadership as conditions for joining the Abraham Accords, Cohen firmly rejected these conditions. He declared Israel's intention to accelerate settlement activities and stated unequivocally that establishing a Palestinian state is not an option, even at the cost of peace with Saudi Arabia.
