Netanyahu's Warning to the Islamic Republic: There is No Place in Iran Unreachable by the Long Arms of Israel

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, during his speech on Friday at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, stated that Israel desires peace but faces 'savage' enemies who 'seek our destruction, and we must defend ourselves against these savage criminals.' He noted the current wartime conditions and expressed that he did not intend to attend this year's assembly, but came to address the 'accusations and lies' made by some world leaders in this international body, emphasizing that he came to speak the truth. The Israeli Prime Minister stated that Israel's enemies 'are not only seeking to destroy us' but also wish to 'eradicate our shared civilization and return us all to a dark era of tyranny and terror.' Netanyahu also remarked that the 'curse of Iran's relentless aggression or the blessing of a historic reconciliation between Arabs and Jews' are the options facing the world today. He continued by mentioning that last year the 'blessing' of normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel seemed more attainable than ever, while the terrorist attack on October 7 by 'Hamas,' backed by the Islamic Republic, and their 'unspeakable crimes' served as a 'curse' and a reminder of the 'Holocaust' of Nazi Germany. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel has been compelled to fight on 'six fronts,' all organized by the Iranian government, referring to attacks by Iranian proxy groups, including rocket attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon that began the day after the Hamas terrorist attack; missile and drone attacks by the Houthis in Yemen; attacks by Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria; and 'Palestinian terrorists' in various parts of Israel. The Israeli Prime Minister also recalled the unprecedented direct attack by the Islamic Republic on Israel last April with the firing of '300 drones and cruise and ballistic missiles,' stating that his message to the 'dictators' ruling Iran is: 'If you attack us, we will attack you. There is no place in Iran that the long arms of Israel cannot reach.' Netanyahu, holding two different maps, described Israel's relations with its Arab partners and the connection of Asia, Europe, and the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea as a 'blessing,' while the 'arc of terrorism created by Iran,' which he claimed stretches from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean and causes significant harm to global trade and human lives, was termed a 'curse.' He warned that if Iran's 'aggression' is not contained, it endangers all countries in the Middle East and many countries worldwide, as the Iranian government 'is trying to spread its radicalism far beyond the Middle East, which is why it finances terrorist networks on five continents and builds ballistic missiles for nuclear warheads to threaten the entire world.' He criticized the world for what he described as 'appeasement of Iranian aggression,' stating that the time for appeasement has ended. Netanyahu called on countries worldwide to support 'the brave people of Iran who want to be freed from this evil regime.' He simultaneously urged 'responsible governments' around the world not only to support Israel in confronting Iranian aggression but also to join Israel in stopping the Iranian government's nuclear weapons program. He also stated that in the coming months, he would request the Security Council to activate the snapback mechanism to restore the sanctions imposed against the Islamic Republic to 'ensure that Iran never obtains nuclear weapons.' He emphasized that Israel will never allow the Iranian government to acquire nuclear weapons. A day before this speech, Benjamin Netanyahu stated that as long as Hezbollah continues its rocket launches, Israel's attacks against this group would continue 'with full force.' He added, 'Israel's policy is clear. We will continue to attack Hezbollah with all our might, and we will not cease our operations until we achieve all our objectives, including the safe return of residents from the north to their homes.' Associated Press reported that Netanyahu's remarks dimmed hopes for the implementation of a ceasefire proposal put forward by American and European officials. On Thursday, Israel conducted a new attack in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, in which a senior Hezbollah commander was killed, and this militia group also launched dozens of rockets towards Israel. Since the beginning of Hezbollah's attacks on Israel, which were in support of Hamas's attacks on October 7 last year, tens of thousands of Israelis and Lebanese living near the borders of the two countries have been displaced. Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New York for the annual UN General Assembly speech scheduled for Friday, October 6. Earlier, the U.S. State Department announced that Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, told an Israeli official on Thursday, October 5, that the escalation of conflicts in Lebanon only makes it harder for civilians to return home on both sides of the border. Reuters quoted Blinken's remarks, stating that Israel rejected global calls for a ceasefire with Hezbollah on Thursday. According to this report, despite Israel's position, the United States and France have attempted to keep the prospect of an immediate 21-day ceasefire alive, which they proposed on Wednesday, October 4. In this regard, according to Reuters, the two countries stated that negotiations, including on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, are ongoing. As Israel's military operations against Hezbollah's positions in Lebanon intensify, concerns about the potential expansion of conflicts to other areas of the region are increasing. The Israeli army announced on Tuesday, October 3, that its air force had conducted hundreds of operational sorties over the past day to address what it termed 'threats against Israeli civilians and to weaken Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure and capabilities.' On Monday, October 2, Israel also targeted hundreds of Hezbollah positions in one of its largest airstrikes. Israel also warned citizens to evacuate areas where it claims Hezbollah's weapon depots are located. Hezbollah was established in 1982 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Several countries, including the United States, Israel, Germany, Serbia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Australia, have recognized the entirety of this group as a terrorist organization. Recognizing Hezbollah as a terrorist organization means not distinguishing between its political and military branches and labeling both as terrorists. Over the past year, following the deadly terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, 2022, Hezbollah has targeted northern Israel with rocket and missile attacks. During the October 7 attack, Hamas, another proxy group supported by the Iranian government, massacred at least 1,200 citizens of Israel, including women, children, and the elderly, and took over 250 others hostage.