Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu delivered a video address on Thursday in which he declared that Israel had secured a meaningful triumph over Iran and emphasized that this moment presents a strategic chance to broaden the circle of peace in the region.
Referencing Tehillim, Netanyahu stated: “The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.”
He continued: “We fought with strength against Iran and achieved a great victory. This victory opens the door to a dramatic expansion of the peace agreements. We are working on this vigorously.”
Netanyahu went on to point out that “alongside the release of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas, there is a window of opportunity here that must not be missed. Not a single day should be wasted.”
Responding to Netanyahu’s message, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich voiced caution regarding what form peace efforts might take. “Expanding the Abraham Accords is a wonderful thing. Peace treaties from a position of strength, with security potential and economic development for the entire region.”
However, he warned against compromises he views as dangerous: “But if it’s just shiny packaging for an existential threat in the form of dividing the land of Israel, handing over territory to the enemy, and establishing a Palestinian terror state twenty times the size of Gaza in an area that geographically and topographically dominates most of the land of Israel — then no, thank you.”
Smotrich criticized past peace initiatives that he believes led to tragedy. “We’ve already seen this horror movie, where they sold us bombastic illusions wrapped in lofty words about a ‘New Middle East’ and international standing in the family of nations — and it blew up in our buses, in city centers, with thousands of dead and wounded, and with the most terrible massacre we’ve suffered since the Holocaust.”
He concluded with a pointed message to Netanyahu: “After October 7th, there aren’t many sane people in Israel who would support that. Our right to this land is not for sale. Period. Mr. Prime Minister, let it be clear — you have no mandate. Not even a hint of one, not even lip service. If there are countries that want peace in exchange for peace, ahlan wa sahlan (welcome). If they want a Palestinian state — forget it. It’s not going to happen.”

{Matzav.com}