“Israel’s policy has been and remains consistent – to prevent our enemies from arming themselves with nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu stated.
By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Israel’s security services for their success in eliminating Syria’s nuclear capabilities a decade ago, while issuing a veiled threat to Iran that Israel will not allow it to develop a nuclear bomb.
Following Israel’s official acknowledgment on Wednesday that it attacked and destroyed the Al-Kibar nuclear facility in Syria in 2007, Netanyahu stated that “the Government of Israel, the IDF and the Mossad prevented Syria from developing a nuclear capability. For this they are deserving of all praise.”
“Israel’s policy has been and remains consistent – to prevent our enemies from arming themselves with nuclear weapons,” he added, seemingly referring to Iran’s current nuclear aspiration.
During the night between September 5 and 6, 2007, Israel secretly bombed the Syrian nuclear reactor, in accordance with the Menachem Begin Doctrine, which states that no Israeli adversary in the Middle East should be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.
The operation was deemed a success. The nuclear facility was destroyed and an escalation in the region was prevented.
The destruction of the Syrian reactor was an historic operation of great significance for the State of Israel and the Jewish People and one of the most important military operations in the IAF’s history.
Current Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, OC Northern Command at the time of the operation, said the message that should be taken from the incident is that “Israel will never accept an existential threat against it. That was the message in 2007, and that is the message to our enemies in both the near and distant future.”
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon stated on Wednesday that “the international community must know that Israel will always protect the security of its citizens and take all necessary steps in the face of threats in our region,”
“Our enemies would be wise not to test Israel’s resolve or question our readiness to defend our nation,” Danon stated, echoing Netanyahu’s message.