Finance Minister Smotrich Says Israel Has No Interest in Joining Middle East Conflict Now

Amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran across the Middle East, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated on Tuesday at a conference organized by the Gush Katif Heritage Center that Israel currently has no interest in joining the conflict. Smotrich emphasized that Israel's primary goal is to undermine and weaken the Iranian regime, primarily through economic means rather than direct military involvement alongside the US. He noted that the current situation benefits Israel and there is no need to push itself into the confrontation, though the country remains prepared for any scenario.

Smotrich warned that if Iran mistakenly fires at Israel, it would face a very strong response. He praised the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), saying they have demonstrated capabilities unmatched by any other military worldwide. He added that the political leadership is close to deciding on sending the Israeli Air Force on a "Saturday stroll" over Iran, implying a potential airstrike.

Separately, a report in the Wall Street Journal revealed that Israeli intelligence believes Iran moved thousands of uranium enrichment centrifuges into deep mountain tunnels at the "Mount Hakokh" site during last autumn, following the "With the Lion" operation. An Israeli military source expressed concern that recent airstrikes in the last conflict did not sufficiently target nuclear-related facilities and stated that "there is still work to be done," including at Mount Hakokh.